Digital Pedagogy

 

Pedagogical Principles

What are the Pedagogical Principles (defined in the Learning Materials)?

Over the years, research has shown that there are some clear pedagogical principles associated with deep learning that should inform our teaching and are identified as being inclusive. These are:   1. Facilitating deep knowledge through higher order thinking  2. Facilitating collaborative learning in which conversations are important  3. Supporting students in knowing how they learn best  4. Planning learning that is problem-based, and situated in real life contexts  5. Is relevant to students, and connects to their background knowledge  6. Supports learning that is owned, controlled and managed by students themselves  7. Is socially supportive, engaging, and values cultural knowledges  8. Is supportive of the development of active citizenship, and strong group identity.

What do the Pedagogical Principles mean to you in common language?

In common language it means that in order for a teacher to facilitate deep learning for students, they need to have good interpersonal relationships with students that includes conversation, engagement and support of their identity. It also means that teachers need to allow for creativity, high-order thinking and facilitate learning that can be applied to students' background knowledge.

Consider whether the Pedagogical Principles make sense to you in terms of your own experience in learning that has a) been pedagogically sound, and b) been pedagogically woeful?

An experience that has been pedagogically sound was my Year 12 experiences. In Year 12 my teachers supported students' ideas and perspectives and would allow us to include that in our learning. They would also have open conversations about our thoughts and feelings about the way they teach and whether or not the things they teach and how they teach it is effective. 

Can you recognise these pedagogies in the experiences you have identified in the sound category? Elaborate.

An experience that has been pedagogically woeful was my experience as a student in Greece. During my school years there the teachers would never support students in how they learn the best. Their teaching was very concrete and fixed and no accommodations were made for any students that needed the extra help. 

Beyond this, can you identify the links between Judy Willis' knowledge of the brain and learning, Sir Ken Robinson's perspective on creativity, the needs of your contemporary learners and these pedagogical principles?

Judy Willis' and Sir Ken Robinson's views are very similar as they share similar thinking patterns regarding education. Their views also align with the pedagogical principles and the needs of contemporary learners. All views acknowledge that each students is different and they learn different. For example, Judy Willis explains that keeping learners to a low state of stress is crucial in keeping them engaged whereas if they are in a state of high stress it can hinder their ability to process and evaluate. This aligns with Ken Robinson's comment on the fact that the education system has made learners to be scared about being wrong leading to them being educated out of their creative capacities. This demonstrates how crucial it is for teachers to be able to accommodate to the contemporary learner by supporting them in how they learn best and facilitate deep knowledge and collaborative learning within the classroom. 

Why is it important to engage social interaction and prior knowledge, and plan for individualised and socially supportive, valued learning?

It is important to do that because every student learns differently, has different strengths, weakness and needs. The education system and specifically teachers need to make sure they engage with students and plan for individualised learning that supports them. This way a student can build a trusting relationship with the teacher while also participate in their learning and grow within the school environment.

Reflect on your experiences of pedagogy as a learner. How many of these pedagogies are you familiar with?

As a students I do not think it was ever made known to me by teachers that I could connect my learning with my background knowledge. I think this is the only pedagogical principal that was not applied in my experiences as a learner. I think all the other pedagogical principals were applied in my learning all throughout high-school.