Critical pedagogy (it even sounds big and confusing) is probably not a household word for many of us. But don’t worry! Can you explain critical pedagogy more simply, like to a kindergartner? Education is about ensuring that everyone has an equal opportunity to learn no matter who he or she are. Well, let’s jump right in and take a look at what critical pedagogy is all about — especially you students!
What Is Critical Pedagogy?
A critical pedagogy asks students to think critically about the what, why and how of their learning. Suppose you are in a classroom where the tutor does not offer answers but rather questions that take you down to your guts and leave you wondering. For reviling, as opposed to disclosing to you that 2+2=4, your educator may ask “Why do figure it out like this 5? Do we need and project (does it make any sense in the real world)? This kind of pedagogy encourages students to question and explore the natural world.
Critical pedagogy translates to not only getting an answer correct but also understanding why the answer is right. It is really about making learning authentic a connected to the everyday things in life. They are good for more than just producing obedient students; they want to produce thinkers, problem solvers and leaders.
What Is The Significance Of Critical Pedagogy?
Just picture yourself going to school every single day, and the only thing you learn is enthusiastic one-liners for quickly remembering facts like a robot. That would be a drag, and not very useful, in real life. This is why critical pedagogy matters; it allows students to see the material in a way that makes sense to them from an experience they had.
It is essentially about not teaching you something in school for the sake of a test, but to draw more relevance between the things they teach and how it applies to your personal life.
So if you are learning in science class about plants, critical pedagogy might have your teacher ask: “How is our knowledge of plants useful for the community?” It might even lead to a project where you plant a school garden or do your part to clean up at the park. It allows you to see the power of learning on a global scale.
What does Critical Pedagogy look like in Action?
Critical Pedagogy engrosses students to a point that they will feel an essential part of their learning. Rather than passively listening to the teacher, students are encouraged not just to lead the discussion but even question or push back on what they have learned if it does not seem right. You could say that seems different from a lot of classroom conversations, but it is an effort to lift all voices.
So, for example, when you are learning about history a teacher who uses critical pedagogy would ask: “What do you think of those decisions in the past? What would you have done differently?” This kind of thing can change the way you think and give you a different lens through which to view history.
In critical pedagogical approaches, teachers also aim to ensure that all students feel included and valued. So if the child has a unique way of learning or understanding things, then it is up to the teacher and educator to see how that oath can be crossed with laden books. It is about making certain all have the tools to learn.
Fairness — Critical Pedagogy
A central tenet of critical pedagogy is equitability. That is, teachers ensure that every student learns and achieves success. There are certain schools where students might face challenges based on place of residence, the language they speak or even their race. Critical pedagogy may help teachers identify ways to support these students as well so everyone gets a fair chance at high achievement.
A student who recently relocated to a new country and is in the process of learning. A teacher whose framework is around critical pedagogy might figure out how to assist this student through pictures, simple words or by pairing it with another pupil who could translate for them. Or the new student can learn a design pattern himself and keep up with other students in class.
Creativity and Critical Pedagogy
Critical pedagogy also allows for more flexibility within the classroom. Students could do projects that they use their creativity in them, not having the type of assignments we repeat every year. Example: —- Instead of a regular book report, create a comic strip that tells the story for students to see. Or perhaps you will take a test? instead, you might have the chance to create a video that displays your understanding of the history!
Critical pedagogy has made learning more enjoyable and engaging by allowing students to express themselves in ways other than writing! This also helps students to find their natural fit in whatever they are good at and the passions that lie within each student as an important person growing up relentlessly.
Problem-solving and Critical Pedagogy
Critical pedagogy is also just a really neat way of teaching problem-solving to students. While many other schools teach kids to follow directions, critical pedagogy teaches them how to think through difficult situations and solve problems for themselves.
For instance, if your school playground was broken or littered etc., a teacher employing critical pedagogy might pose the problem to his/her class by saying something like this; “We want our playground well-taken care of. This would involve a conversation between students and the ideas that are thrown in, formulating an answer together. This is a problem-solving skill you can use for life.
A Critical Pedagogy of Community
Critical pedagogy also stresses the importance of community for students. This is understanding that we are all one and everything, good or bad can have a ripple effect. In the classroom, for instance, this might look like shared projects where everyone will have to participate or it can be about learning how we could assist others in our community or even globally.
For one, you’ll be taught something and then inspired to start a similar project at your school or in the community; like learning about recycling and beginning an initiative to have everyone recycle more.
Or you might be learning about other cultures and then have a class party where all the kids bring something from their own culture. This teaches students to value, respect and treasure each other to create a more robustly sensitive community.
Critical Pedagogy in Your Classroom
But where is the critical pedagogy in your classroom? Find questions that your teacher may ask you that require a little more thought of what is being learned. Perhaps your teacher requests that you discuss what you think might happen next in a story or challenges you to devise an alternative approach to solving a math problem. All of these examples represent critical pedagogy.
You also might hear your teacher telling you to ask questions and consider how the material applies to everyday life. This might be asking you to connect a science lesson to something in your house or garden, or asking how it is relevant for when you are older.
Conclusion: The Significance Of Critical Pedagogy
Critical pedagogy means ensuring you can think well Icon Markers Fill format Fore Color Format It is more about memorising and obeying. It is about curiosity, discovery and understanding how school learning interfaces with the world around you.
Critical pedagogy emphasizes learning as a vital, exciting part of transformation that makes a difference in your life and perhaps the lives of others. So as you leer begrudgingly at your professor’s next class, think to yourself… critical pedagogy is helping me learn!
