490029 SE Theory and practical experience of school development (2016S)

Pupils develop within the context of home, school, community/society, and culture, so the experiences pupils have within these environments are of concern to school teachers. We will attempt to identify the ideologies our society has constructed around the notions of "childhood", "adolescence", "learners", "family", "education", and "community". We will try to see how these understandings affect the lifeworlds of the learners we teach as well as our own, and will consider how these constructs determine the expectations we have and the educational experiences we provide.

In the 21st century, we are working in social contexts of constant, accelerating change that engenders new demands and challenges as well as new possibilities. As professional pedagogues, it becomes important for us to look broadly at what is happening in society, and to develop the necessary skills to read the reality of the diverse social contexts in which we - as well as our pupils - live and experience the world. In this seminar we would ask, what professional knowledge and skills do we have, and what do we need to acquire? What roles do we play and what responsibilities do we take up as professionals in an increasingly globalized world?

The course will examine approaches that allow for educating the young person in his or her social, cultural and political context. This would involve school development in terms of setting curriculum goals that connect to the goals and aspirations of the families and communities our pupils come from, and providing learning environments in our specific contexts which potentially meet the needs and build on the capacities of all learners. It would also involve learning about strategies to engage in dialogue with families, communities, and colleagues in making decisions about what is important in school development, and how to accompany young people in their sense of (cultural) identities and belonging.

Methods include course readings, reflective assignments, and field research.