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Progressive Pedagogy

Workshop by:Kakul Agha

19/3/2013

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The following areas will be addressed during the workshop:

What is progressive pedagogy (PP)? Concept and application of Progressive teaching. What assumptions guide progressive

pedagogies? What are the defining characteristics of

progressive pedagogies? How can I integrate progressive pedagogies into

my classroom?

Agenda

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How do I teach? Which pedagogy do I use?

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Brainstorming

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How do I teach? Which pedagogy do I use?

Which one do I like most?

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Brainstorming

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Since the 1960s, educational reformers have called for a fundamental transformation in the way that students and instructors relate to one another and how material is presented.

Proponents seek to: fundamentally alter the role of the instructor transform classroom teaching methods make students self-conscious participants in

the process of knowledge construction.

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Point to know

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“…a specific management of the education

process that emphasizes creativity, individuality,

cooperation, and open and active teaching

……………………. so that independence,

creativity, inner activity, self-realization,

openness, emotionality and experience are

enhanced in students” (Svozil, 2005).

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A progressive teaching approach is considered to be:

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Let us relate our way of teaching to the

definition and concept of progressive

teaching and try to match / jigsaw / fit it!

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My Reflection…

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The term “habitual lesson” (HL) was

understood both by student teachers and

students to indicate a lesson led intentionally

in the most convenient way and as usual, in a

lesson verified in practice.

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Is my teaching like this?

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A “progressive lesson” (PL) has a similar content and structure as its habitual counterpart, but involve:

more frequent participation of students in lesson management;

increased students’ role in the education process, giving them a bigger choice of exercise alternatives;

encouraging a higher level of decision making role in students;

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In contrast !!

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Lets ponder!!

Exercise 2…

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Exercise time!!

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A “progressive lesson” (PL) has a similar content and structure as its habitual counterpart, but involve:

more frequent participation of students in lesson management;

increased students’ role in the education process, giving them a bigger choice of exercise alternatives;

encouraging a higher level of decision making role in students;

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In contrast !!

Ask them which activities they

like? Or even the flow of the class?

Add VARK perspective

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Participation in case study; group activities;

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Time to reflect on YOUR pedagogy – things

that you use and like *** and also believe in

them***

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REFLECTION!!!!

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Francis and Grindle (1998) have identified the following major ones:

interdisciplinary integration; the teacher as a guide in the education

process; an active students’ role; student participation in the creation of the

curriculum; learning mainly through discovery;

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Characteristics of Progressive education…

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inner motivation - external rewards and punishments are not necessary;

there is not much emphasis on traditional academic standards;

limited testing; emphasis on cooperative group work; learning and teaching inside and outside

classrooms; and creative expression by students

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Contd…

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A classroom that is student-centered.

Teaching methods that are inquiry driven and

organized around problem-solving and

investigation.

Instructors who are passionate about their

subject’s real world significance.

Metacognition - critical reflection about content

and pedagogy - is an integral part of the

classroom experience.19/3/2013

What are the defining characteristics of PP?

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Strengthens student motivation Promotes peer communication Reduces disruptive behaviour Builds student-teacher relationships Promotes discovery/active learning Responsibility for one’s own learning

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Why student-centred learning should be integrated into the curriculum:

Experiential Learning

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Inquiry learning emphasizes constructivist ideas of learning [where knowledge is built from experience and process, especially socially based experience]. Therefore learning proceeds best in group situations.

Inquiry-based learning approaches: ‘Pure’ Problem-based learning ‘Hybrid’ Problem-based learning Field-work Case studies Investigations Individual and group projects Research activity

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Inquiry Driven learning

Role of teacher – facilitato

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Specific learning processes that students engage in during inquiry-learning include:

Creating questions of their own

Obtaining supporting evidence to answer the

question(s)

Explaining the evidence collected

Connecting the explanation to the knowledge obtained

from the investigative process

Creating an argument and justification for the

explanation 19/3/2013

Contd…

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Play the video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRPVQFSmoqU

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Metacognition

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It reflects self-consciously about teaching methods and the teacher-student relationship.

It encourages disagreement and celebrates difference – and treats the classroom as a place where differences can be articulated and analyzed.

It treats students as participants and not as spectators.

It emphasizes practice: active inquiry and investigation.

It seeks to develop a critical awareness of problems, power, and inequalities.

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What is progressive pedagogy?

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Neil Fleming's VAK/VARK model – 1970s

One of the most common and widely-used categorizations of the various types of learning styles is Fleming's VARK model (sometimes VAK) which expanded upon earlier Neuro-linguistic programming (VARK) models: Visual learners; Auditory learners; Read / write learners; Kinesthetic learners or tactile learners.

The VARK Questionnaire

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Lets learn about VARK

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The VARK Questionnaire

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Look at your scores! [Could do it with your students too]

So there is a need to know the student….

It helps teachers to reflect on their teaching and learning styles to be used in the classroom.

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Result of VARK

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1. That the traditional classroom is a site of power, privilege, and

hierarchy.

2. That teaching, the methods of instruction, choice of readings,

nature of the assignments, and forms of assessment have

ideological significance.

3. That traditional approaches to teaching diminish student agency,

limit the number of perspectives that are raised, marginalize

students who don’t conform to certain norms, and unduly

separate the classroom from the real world.

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What assumptions guide PP?

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All good teachers strive to create a nurturing and inclusive classroom environment. But proponents of progressive pedagogies go further.

Progressive pedagogies:

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Is there a difference between PPs and good teaching?

Stress the value of experience - both the experience that comes from hands-on research and community-based learning and from each

student’s personal experiences.

Place issues centering on class, disability, ethnicity, gender, race, and

sexual orientation at the center of inquiry.

Emphasize the psycho-social dimensions of

teaching: empathy and cultural sensitivity, but

also their obverse: estrangement, cynicism,

and conflict.

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Be self-conscious about your learning objectives and practices. Encourage critical reflection about teaching

among your students: why you chose the books, assignments, and evaluation methods that you did.

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How can I integrate progressive pedagogies into my classroom?

STEP 1

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Organize sessions around problems and questions. Explore difficult issues in theory and practice.

Create a participatory classroom, where students engage in active learning, inquiry, and problem solving.

Devise assessment techniques that include elements beyond homework and testing.

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Contd…STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

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Edgar Dale - a US educationist and professor of educations at Ohio State University.  

In 1946 he developed his most famous model, the cone of learning .

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Dale’s Cone of learning

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Dale’s Cone of Learning

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Have students work on a formal research project which involves: designing the study, constructing measurements, selecting a sampling strategy, collecting data, analyzing data, and interpreting and communicating the results.

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What are some effective progressive pedagogical strategies?

1. Undertake a group research project:

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Film clips can engage students, stimulate discussion, and dramatise important issues and experiences.

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2. Use clips from feature films / videos / audios in the classroom:

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Several students might act out an issue that the class can analyse.

Thus, in a social work class, students might dramatize the ethical issues raised by gift-giving or continuing contact with clients.

Or a management class could showcase a role play by students on managerial issues.

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3. Integrate simulations into your teaching:

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Examine an article’s biases, omissions, and implicit assumptions.

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4. Critically analyse an article from the news media.

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Involve students in experiential learning that links theory, content, and professional practice.

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5. Incorporate a community-based learning project.

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Write out caselets – letting students collect pertinent information.

Let students prepare portfolios of real time information.

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6. Develop “case studies” and “real-world” scenarios

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Design a set of questions / paper, keeping in

mind interventions utilising Progressive

Pedagogical strategies.

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Let us take this exercise 3

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Thanks for your support and

participation in the workshop!

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