Challenges related to promoting learning in the cognitive domain: Developing pupils' declarative knowledge and thinking

Thus, when planning and teaching lessons, it is important to be clear what knowledge (declarative, procedural or both) pupils are expected to learn, as well as identifying and providing opportunities for this knowledge to be learned and demonstrated, for example, verbally (through for example questioning), in writing and through practical demonstration. In this chapter, the focus is on learning declarative knowledge and the pupils’ ability to think. The chapter starts with part 1 of the case study, which considers a challenge faced by a teacher in relation to teaching for learning in the cognitive domain. It then focuses on some theory related to what knowledge pupils should be learning in physical education, how pupils can be supported to develop this knowledge – looking specifically at structuring, explaining and questioning. The chapter then returns to the case study and in part 2 considers how the teacher incorporated this theory into her teaching to enable pupils to learn in the cognitive domain.