Resources for unit 2

5.1. Types of didactics

There are two types of didactics: General didactics, and subject- specific didactics.

A. General didactics

General didactics encompasses the fundamental principles, methods, and techniques of teaching that are applicable across a wide range of subjects and educational levels. It focuses on overarching aspects of the teaching and learning process, such as how to effectively engage students, structure and sequence lessons, and adapt instructional strategies to suit diverse learning needs and educational contexts. General didactics supports educators in making informed decisions about pedagogy, classroom management, and curriculum delivery, regardless of the specific subject matter.

B. Subject-specific didactics

Subject-specific didactics also called special didactics refers to the teaching strategies, methods, and instructional approaches tailored to specific subject areas, such as mathematics, language, history, or science. Unlike general didactics, which applies broadly across disciplines, special didactics focuses on the unique content structures, cognitive demands, and learning processes associated with each subject.

 It provides subject-specific frameworks that guide educators in selecting the most effective ways to present content, address misconceptions, and foster deep understanding within a particular discipline. For example, the didactics of mathematics emphasize logical reasoning and problem-solving, while language didactics may focus on communication skills and grammar acquisition.