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Section 2 Teaching, Learning and Assessing Health Education Teaching and learning Effective teaching and learning comprises a range of important and interacting features. These can be gathered under five key elements that lie at the heart of effective learning and teaching and that are widely accepted as the basis of good practice. They are concerned with teachers:

establishing a supportive climate for learning

making learning clear for the learner

using a variety of approaches

giving and receiving clear, regular feedback

monitoring attainment and progress in learning.

Teaching and learning in health education The quality of interactions between teachers and learners is the critically important feature of effective learning. Within health education, the teaching and learning experiences should provide opportunities for young people to increase their knowledge and understanding, develop skills and explore beliefs, attitudes and values in relation to a range of issues relevant to their own lives and the society in which they live. While acquiring knowledge is important for informed decision making and other skills development, attitude and values clarification remains an integral part of that process. Therefore, learning and teaching strategies need to bring together the aspects of knowledge and understanding, skills and values.

An example of the way in which the key elements interact can be seen in the following description of teaching about relationships. Although there are differing perceptions about the needs of young people, some things are certain. Throughout their lives, they will have opportunities to express themselves and make decisions about their relationships. While they do need information about issues such as puberty, pregnancy, family roles and sexually transmitted infections, information alone will not be enough. It is necessary to provide them with the skills to cope with pressures and conflicts and to manage their relationships. Young people can be helped to develop specific skills that will enable them to establish, maintain or end relationships and make decisions that are important to them as individuals. Communication skills help young people express their needs, thoughts and feelings, and to question when uncertain. In reality, decisions are often made in circumstances that include emotional pressure and it is very important to offer young people opportunities to learn about and practise decision-making and assertiveness skills in a non-threatening atmosphere. Fundamental values such as trust, respect and empathy, are commonly expressed within relationships. Young people need to be able to clarify what they believe in and why they believe in it. Sharing beliefs, values and attitudes can lead to an understanding and acceptance of differing values within relationships.

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