What is Pedagogy?
According to the Oxford dictionary, the term pedagogy is 'the method and practice of teaching' (9273). Canadian educator and researching Max van Manen explains how pedagogy delves into the deep nature of the relationship between adults and children and in not simply a word or form of 'instruction' (Churchill et al. 2011, p.16) but rather it is informed by philosophy, psychology, sociology and cultural studies and it makes up the particular and distinctive knowledge of teachers (Charles 2014).
Overarching Statement about Pedagogical Position
After much reflection in relation to my pedagogical position, my approach to pedagogy takes a very constructivist method to teaching, as I believe that within a classroom, all students have something that they can bring to the classroom and therefore everyone in the class is a bearer of knowledge. Throughout my recent placement I believe that I was warm, friendly and approachable to the students creating a positive relationship with the class that allowed them to feel comfortable and therefore engage with me as their teacher and throughout their learning. By using a constructivist approach to teaching, I believe that I was able to create a learning environment that was welcoming, allowing students to ‘use information in some way that deepened their own understanding of an area’ (Hinchey 2010, p.42). I feel that this approach to teaching has allowed students to learn from the teacher as well as from each other which holds to the constructivists belief that everyone in the classroom is a bearer of knowledge.
According to the Oxford dictionary, the term pedagogy is 'the method and practice of teaching' (9273). Canadian educator and researching Max van Manen explains how pedagogy delves into the deep nature of the relationship between adults and children and in not simply a word or form of 'instruction' (Churchill et al. 2011, p.16) but rather it is informed by philosophy, psychology, sociology and cultural studies and it makes up the particular and distinctive knowledge of teachers (Charles 2014).
Overarching Statement about Pedagogical Position
After much reflection in relation to my pedagogical position, my approach to pedagogy takes a very constructivist method to teaching, as I believe that within a classroom, all students have something that they can bring to the classroom and therefore everyone in the class is a bearer of knowledge. Throughout my recent placement I believe that I was warm, friendly and approachable to the students creating a positive relationship with the class that allowed them to feel comfortable and therefore engage with me as their teacher and throughout their learning. By using a constructivist approach to teaching, I believe that I was able to create a learning environment that was welcoming, allowing students to ‘use information in some way that deepened their own understanding of an area’ (Hinchey 2010, p.42). I feel that this approach to teaching has allowed students to learn from the teacher as well as from each other which holds to the constructivists belief that everyone in the classroom is a bearer of knowledge.