In the 1960s and 70s, the prevailing psychological model for student learning was Skinnerian behaviorism, which stressed the importance of immediate positive or negative feedback on desired or undesired learning behaviors. In the later 70s and the 80s, cognitive or brain-based theories replaced the behaviorist model, and research focused on ways of organizing information to make it readily accessible to students. Current theories of learning also emphasize the need to accommodate individual learning differences by providing students with a choice of different paths toward course goals. Nevertheless, the teacher has an important responsibility to equip the student to become an effective teacher of him or herself. New Directions for Theory and Research on Teaching Good teaching takes many forms, but the best teaching combines deep subject knowledge with a grasp of effective pedagogies.
Current research continues to reveal the benefits of active learning and group-based inquiry.
Much controversy surrounds student evaluations of teaching, but the studies cited generally uphold their value if used fairly and wisely. New technologies play an increasingly important role in contemporary teaching practices. So far, the main attraction of computer-assisted learning is its lower cost. In today's academy, both new and continuing faculty need considerable moral support from their institutions. The most successful teachers involve themselves in teaching in a deep, personal, and idealistic way.