Pedagogy in a University
Pedagogy is, sometimes, for who teaches in a university, a strange word. Familiar with the words “teaching,” “student,” “learning,” “outcomes”, “curriculum,” “grade,” and many more such words commonly used in relation to education, “pedagogy” can be a bit of a mystery.
Yet, to be a good university teacher, consideration of the pedagogy needed with those who have freely agreed and chosen their course of study, is important. what works and why? At Light on Thinking, we specialize in pedagogy informed by democratic technologies of equality, freedom to learn according to personal preferences and the ways in which university teaching can accommodate these.
Capable of student transformation, pedagogy is everything. It can also be a fulfilling and effective road to success for university teachers.
University teachers are often teachers without knowledge of pedagogy when they arrive to their university based profession of being an academic. They got interested in an academic subject, did a PhD, and got a job. They love their area and their discipline and are probably glad to be in academia and to share their knowledge with students. But classroom interaction? That’s a learning curve. Student engagement? Interaction around process and outcomes with students? A personal challenge. Universities offer their teaching staff training programmes, but these are not necessarily in depth, nor involving awareness of how pedagogy operates in teaching and learning. Often staff are left to flounder and make it up as they go along, hoping their scholarly expertise will see them through. And when it doesn’t? That’s where Light on Thinking can help.
Pedagogy is vital because where there is no pedagogy, problems slip into educational practice. Prejudice, for example. Pedagogy applied ensures equalty of educational experience for all. Pedagogy therefore makes classrooms safe spaces.
