Teaching and Learning, U.S.: Organization

Teaching and learning are considered the core purposes of higher education in the United States. The two words—teaching and learning—are oftentimes used interchangeably, yet the two words [Page 1502]represent different, albeit interrelated, concepts. Teaching refers to the instructional practices followed by a professor in order for students to acquire subject matter content and skills, while learning refers to the acquisition and application of new knowledge and skills by a learner that is demonstrated through a variety of assessments. The distinction between teaching and learning is at the forefront of ongoing debates about how best to define and support effective teaching, as well as assess students’ learning of new knowledge and skills. Numerous higher education stakeholders have weighed in on these debates, and as a result, ...