Here’s what’s disappointing about teachers’ understanding of pedagogy.
Try this out.
Ask any qualified teacher to identify and discuss a particular theory (or tradition) they accept and apply for advancing student learning.
Some may mumble a reply of sufficient detail to gain a bare-minimum C- pass.
Many are more likely to report adopting a hand-me-down hit-and-miss eclectic approach of doing anything that works.
It’s no wonder student underachievement is a massive national and international problem.
Theory isn’t boring; it’s the whet stone which hones pedagogical practises and leads to student achievement.
So where is there an understandable theory which simultaneously messages intelligence and manages emotions?
A practical theory which makes no apology for emphasizing a work ethic within an accepting, safe educational space where exploration and learning from mistakes is encouraged.
This is the challenge that’s identified and the solution we aim at achieving with these blogs’ goal.
[Prepared and written by John@designschool.ac.nz, one of the course designers, without any assistance from AI GPT]