T-440A
Teaching and Learning: "The Having of Wonderful Ideas"
(Formerly titled Teaching and Learning: Critical Exploration in the Classroom)
Eleanor R. Duckworth
“Knowledge emerges only through invention and re-invention, through the restless, impatient, continuing, hopeful inquiry human beings pursue in the world, with the world, and with each other.” (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed) This course seeks to bring a Freirean approach to teaching situations by valuing the learners' experiences and insights. Rather than conceiving of teaching as explaining, and learning as listening, this course looks at situations where teachers listen and learners do the explaining. The course starts from the premise that there are endless numbers of adequate pathways for people to come to understand subject matters. Curriculum and assessment must build on this diversity. A second premise is that every person can get involved with, and enjoy and get good at, every subject matter. “[An educator’s] efforts must be imbued with a profound trust in people and their creative power.” (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed) The method is appropriate for doctoral research in various aspects of teaching and learning. The course is designed to help teachers think about engaging people, and helping them learn, in a variety of subject matter. It is relevant for teachers of any subject matter, with any amount of experience, teaching people of any age (2 to 102), teaching in any setting--public schools, offices, museums, basketball courts, wherever one might want to help someone learn. In addition to the two-hour class, students attend a weekly two-hour section. Weekly reports, journals, and a final paper are required. This course fulfills one of the School Leadership Program's teacher leadership strand requirements. This course is a prerequisite for T-150, "Curriculum Based on Understanding: Liberating Education and Opening Subject Matter."
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