didaktisch

Didaktisch is an adjective used in German and Dutch to describe matters related to instruction and education. In English, didactic can carry a more evaluative or moralizing nuance in some contexts. The term derives from Greek didaktikos “apt at teaching” and didaskein “to teach.”

In pedagogy, Didaktik denotes the theory and science of teaching. It focuses on what should be taught (content) and why and how it should be taught (goals, methods, and assessment). In German-speaking countries a distinction is made between Allgemeine Didaktik (general didactics) and Fachdidaktik (subject-specific didactics). The didactic triangle, involving learner, teacher, and content, is a common organizing concept, and models address the alignment of objectives, content, activities, and assessment.

Practically, didactics informs planning and design: choosing essential content, structuring learning steps, selecting appropriate tasks and media, and setting learning outcomes. Didaktische Materialien and approaches are evaluated by their clarity, coherence, and support for understanding, transfer, and independent learning. In curriculum work, didactics interacts with discipline-specific methods, classroom management, and educational technology.

Notes: The term is neutral in German usage, but the English adjective didactic can imply moralizing instruction; awareness of context is important when translating.