What are Pedagogical Principles?

Definition: Basic beliefs or principles that guide how teachers teach and how students learn. They are the theories, values, and practices underlying the design, delivery, and assessment of learning experiences.

They are not directives to teach in a specific way exactly, but instead, they offer orientation: what to value, what types of learning matter, how educator & student roles are thought about, etc.

Good pedagogical principles assist in coordinating learning goals, instruction methods, evaluation, and the context in which students learn.

Why Pedagogical Principles Matter

Consistency and Coherence
Having well-stated principles ensures that what is happening across various classes, modules, or periods of time is coherent, not disjointed. It prevents conflicting practices.

Guiding Design and Decision-Making
In designing a course, selecting activities, determining assessment types, or designing learning tasks, principles assist in making more thoughtful decisions.

Improving Quality and Equity
Principles regarding inclusion, diversity, engagement, authentic tasks, etc., assist in ensuring learning works well for all students—not only those who are already privileged.

Adaptability
Good principles need to be adaptable enough to fit into various contexts (culture, technology, subject area) but resilient enough to uphold educational integrity.

Faculty / Teacher Development
Shared principles provide a language for reflection, feedback, improvement. Supports teachers in enhancing practice and aligning with institutional objectives.