Relating Theory and Practice
There are two main ways to relate theory and practice. Both methods
require learners to reflect on their learning experience to be successful.
Practice to theory:
In active learning, learners form concepts through reasoning. A real-life problem leads them into in-depth research, experimentation and fact-finding. They try to understand their findings and construct a concept. They then check their understanding of the concept, or theory, to check they are using it correctly and that it still works in new situations. These are high-level cognitive tasks that lead to deep understanding of the theories.
Theory to practice:
The teacher explains a theory, using examples. They then ask learners to apply the theory in practical situations. This method moves from abstract knowledge to concrete examples. It is especially useful in a subject that requires some knowledge of the theory before trying it for real, e.g. Sign language. Many teachers, tutors and trainers use a mixture of the two methods.
Methods:
- setting learners challenging targets
- practice-theory-practice cycles
- integrated work experience models and analogies
- promotion of thinking skills and research skills.
