Today we looked deeply into collaborative pedagogies. This was introduced by a discussion of the Paideia method and how it can be used to develop our learners critical thinking within the classroom. When learning about this method, I felt challenged to engage learners in a learning discussion without me, the teacher, initiating and mediating it. It was important for us to realise that this process will not happen over night. Over time, use of the Paideia method will give our learners the confidence and chance to use their voice and listen to their peers. The fact that this method links nicely with the New Zealand curriculum key competencies resonates strongly with me. What better way to develop the ability of learners to think, use language, symbols and texts, manage self; relate to others; and participate and contribute?
So what does collaborative pedagogies have to do with the Paideia method? I am in an extremely exciting teaching situation where I am co-teaching in an open learning space alongside my mentor teacher and two other experienced teachers. To me, collaborative pedagogies involve co-teaching, and therefore give us the confidence and ability to develop learning experiences for our learners which may have previously been seen as impossible. That is, we can make the impossible possible! Just as us teachers are collaborating, we want to give our learners the skills to collaborate as well in a critical way.
Today, +Ashley Schellingerhout, +Clarelle Davies and I collaborated, looking at how we could excite our learners into thinking critically in years 3 to 6. This is what we came up with:
Awesome post Hannah, I hadn't even thought about how that connects with the key competencies! I also like you kept things realistic and reminded yourself that nothing happens overnight. Also you are probably doing more student-led discussion than you realise, particularly with 'think pair share' strategies that are so popular.
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