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Taking a closer look at Pedagogy
Jennifer Carrier Dorman (Cliotech) blogged about Educon 2.0 and this snippet caught my eye and gave me an “a-ha” moment!
Pedagogy Sessions
Here’s what I want to see more of… specific conversations around pedagogy. Could we have some sessions where folks had agreed to read an article beforehand around constructivist teaching and then had a conversation where we looked at Web 2.0 tools with the specific agenda of looking at how to take the best of progressive pedagogy and apply it to the new word in which we live? Maybe even looking at old language and looking at its limits and where we do and don’t need new language? Again… skypecast it, chat it and give time for reflection at the end.
It would also be nice to see these discussions of pedagogy lead to more specific suggestions about how to incorporate these ideas into practice; ie, how will I apply this idea to the lesson/unit I’m starting tomorrow. How do I introduce this to students; what does it look like onscreen, and what does my “classroom” (in quotes because you can define it however you want) look like as a result? Perhaps these sessions could be followed by a series of posts/wiki pages where people brainstorm and archive ideas on using these tools in specific lessons.
One of the things that I really want to take a closer look at, then reflect, refine and redefine is the pedagogy that drives my teaching.
I don’t quite “know” why I teach the way I do – I just do it because it feels right. This was an area that didn’t seem to have much on offer at ULearn07 – I may have overlooked it as there were many, many fantastic and awe-inspiring workshops/presentations to choose from!
And so begins an in-depth look at my personal teaching philosopy and the pedagogy that supports it. Bear with me while I do it and let me know when I start to rave incoherently……….
October 12th, 2007 at 12:09 am
Does it have to be all constructivism? Do any of the other learning theories get a nod, here?
The terminology has become so darn watered down, I’m afraid. We confuse constructivism with guided discovery with radical discovery and so on.
It’s time for a return to a discussion of learning theory, I think.
Chris
October 15th, 2007 at 5:31 pm
Intersting challenge – Re “It would also be nice to see these discussions of pedagogy lead to more specific suggestions about how to incorporate these ideas into practice; ie, how will I apply this idea to the lesson/unit I’m starting tomorrow. “
This is something we base our work with our activ@eden and WAIK ict_pd cluster schools and other contract schools upon – if teachers can see clearly how the use of ICT will enhance learning outcome rather than vague claims of engagement they are more likely to persevere – after all most teachers started teaching because they wanted to make a difference –
You might enjoy checking out our focus on pedagogies for learning wrt the student learning outcomes in SOLO Taxonomy at our inquire2learn wiki and then check out how we use it as a basis for planning SOLO coded learning experiences – where integrating ICTs (including Web2.0) and thinking skill SOLO coded interventions and SOLO coded student self assessment rubrics help the student learner “learn how to learn”
One thing is certain – this approach ensures both teachers AND students can explain what they are doing in terms of learning outcome – how it is going – and what they need to do to make it better – they know why they are using ICTs and the complexity of learning outcome they seek to enhance
October 20th, 2007 at 6:04 pm
Chris, As always, you’ve given me another avenue to explore and I thank you for it. Artichoke, thank you for your comments and thanks for those links – I’m especially interested in the SOLO taxonomy and will look very closely at that too. I’m looking at a K12 Online presentation at the moment entitled Putting the Pedagogy Back into the Tools and will post about that on my Pedagogy Journey soon.