Chapter 1: Best International Practice in Teaching and Learning: From Theories to Principles to Actions

What is “best practice”? The expression of best practice seems to originate in the professions of law and medicine as well as in the fields of government administration and project management. Best practice refers to the most efficient and effective way of accomplishing a task, based on repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time. It is efficient because they require minimal amount of resources (i.e., time and effort) and it is effective as they promise to deliver best results. In short, the phrase best practice is used to describe solid, evidence-based, and state-of-the-art work in a particular field that has proven to reliably lead to a desired outcome. Thus, if a professional implements what is considered to be a best practice in a field, he or she is aware of the development of research and discoveries and consistently offers clients the latest method, technique, and knowledge to maximize his or her service. If he or she does not adhere to a contemporary standard of procedure and a case unexpectedly turns out badly, fellow professionals may criticize his or her decision and treatment as not following best practice.