New Learning MOOC’s Updates
Models of Pedagogy and Patterns of Curriculum
Mimesis: The Modern Past
- Aristotle on Mimesis
- St Benedict on the Teacher and the Taught
- Inside Pakistan’s Madrasas
- Thayer, Learning about Bark
- Confucius on Becoming a Learned Person
- A Morning at the Dong-feng Kindergarten
- Why Should They Look Behind Them?
- Michael Apple on Ideology in Curriculum
- A Japanese Cram School
Synthesis: More Recent Times
- Froebel on Play as a Primary Way of Learning for Young Children
- Thayer on Making Curriculum Relevant
- Lisa Delpit on Power and Pedagogy
- Bruner’s Theory of Instruction
- Moves You Make You Haven’t Given Names To
Reflexivity: New Learning
- Reflexive Learning Case Studies
- Kress on Meaning and Agency
- Vygotsky on the Zone of Proximal Development
- Reggio Emilia on Educational Principles
- Cazden on Pedagogical Weaving
- ‘Learning by Design’ Knowledge Processes
- Planning Strategically … Pooling Our Pedagogies
- Learning by Design in the Lanyon Cluster
- He Didn’t Know What He Didn’t Know
- You Need to Think About It!
- Coaxing Learners to Think for Themselves
Comment: Mention a stand-out idea, or new thought prompted by this material. Use @Name to speak with others about their thoughts.
Make an Update: Describe and analyze the dynamics of learning in a curriculum practice that reflects "mimesis," "sythesis," "reflectivity," or a combination of these.
Comment on Stand-Out Idea
One standout idea from the readings is Bruner’s Theory of Instruction, which emphasizes the importance of scaffolding in learning. This concept encourages educators to provide support that enables students to build on their existing knowledge and gradually tackle more complex concepts. Bruner’s insights highlight the necessity of engaging students actively in their learning process and fostering a deep understanding rather than rote memorization. I’m curious how others see scaffolding applied in their educational contexts. @Name, what are your thoughts on the practical application of Bruner’s ideas in your teaching or learning experiences?
Update on Dynamics of Learning in Curriculum Practice
In analyzing the dynamics of learning within a curriculum practice that reflects mimesis, synthesis, and reflectivity, it becomes evident how these concepts interact to enhance the educational experience.
Mimesis in this context emphasizes the imitation of existing knowledge and cultural practices. For instance, in a curriculum focused on literary analysis, students might engage in close reading of classical texts, emulating the analytical frameworks established by Aristotle or Confucius. This approach allows learners to internalize established norms and values before they are encouraged to move beyond them.
Synthesis is evident when educators, like Froebel, incorporate play as a primary mode of learning. By integrating play into the curriculum, students synthesize their experiences, knowledge, and social interactions, creating a more holistic understanding of the material. This method also mirrors Thayer’s idea of making curriculum relevant by connecting students’ interests with academic content. The synthesis of these elements allows learners to see the practical application of their knowledge in real-world contexts.
Reflectivity plays a critical role in encouraging students to think critically about their learning processes. As seen in Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development, educators can facilitate reflective learning by guiding students through challenging tasks with the right amount of support. Cazden's concept of pedagogical weaving also underscores the importance of integrating different teaching strategies to address various learning styles and promote deeper understanding. When students engage in reflexive learning, they are not only absorbing knowledge but also assessing their approaches and adjusting their strategies, leading to a more personalized and effective learning experience.
A common concept in discussions about teaching models is the concept of culturally responsive teaching (CRT). This approach emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and appreciating students' cultural backgrounds in the learning process. By integrating students' cultural contexts into the curriculum and promoting an inclusive classroom environment. Educators can increase student participation and promote a sense of belonging with CRT, encouraging teachers to build strong relationships with students. Make learning more relevant and meaningful How do you think using culturally responsive learning can impact student success and classroom dynamics?
odels of pedagogy and patterns of curriculum are essential frameworks that shape the educational experience by determining how knowledge is delivered and how learning is structured.
1. Pedagogical Models:
Traditional Pedagogy: Often teacher-centered, this model focuses on direct instruction, where the teacher transmits knowledge, and students are passive recipients. It emphasizes memorization and mastery of specific content, which is assessed through standardized testing.
Constructivist Pedagogy: In contrast, this model is student-centered and encourages active learning. It posits that learners construct their own understanding through experiences and reflection. Teachers serve as facilitators, guiding inquiry and promoting critical thinking. This aligns with approaches like project-based learning and problem-solving models.
Collaborative Pedagogy: This model fosters group work and interaction, emphasizing that learning is a social process. It encourages cooperation among students to solve problems and create shared understanding, helping to develop communication and teamwork skills.
2. Curriculum Patterns:
Subject-Centered Curriculum: This traditional approach focuses on dividing knowledge into discrete subjects, like math, science, and history, with little integration between them. Its strength is in-depth mastery of each discipline, but it can sometimes lead to fragmented learning experiences.
Interdisciplinary Curriculum: This model integrates multiple subjects around a common theme or problem, helping students to see connections between disciplines. It encourages holistic learning, where knowledge from different areas informs a comprehensive understanding of a topic.
Experiential Curriculum: Based on Dewey’s philosophy of learning by doing, this curriculum is designed around hands-on activities, real-world projects, and problem-solving. It aligns closely with constructivist pedagogy, as students learn through direct engagement with their environment and reflect on their experiences.
Both pedagogy and curriculum interact to influence how students engage with content, develop skills, and prepare for future challenges. The challenge for educators is to balance different models to create inclusive and transformative learning environments that not only impart knowledge but also foster critical thinking, creativity, and social responsibility.
The curriculum practices that incorporate the principles of mimesis, synthesis, and reflexivity offer a diverse range of educational opportunities for students, promoting critical engagement and greater understanding. This method's cornerstone is mimesis, or the imitation of behavior or culture, which enables students to interact with body of knowledge and practices within a discipline. Learners are encouraged to comprehend complex concepts and emulate the strategies used by professionals in the field by modeling expert behaviors and mental processes. By imitating the customs and structures of their academic or creative groups, students not only develop fundamental skills but also a sense of community.
The curriculum practices that incorporate the principles of mimesis, synthesis, and reflexivity offer a diverse range of educational opportunities for students, promoting critical engagement and greater understanding. This method's cornerstone is mimesis, or the imitation of behavior or culture, which enables students to interact with body of knowledge and practices within a discipline. Learners are encouraged to comprehend complex concepts and emulate the strategies used by professionals in the field by modeling expert behaviors and mental processes. By imitating the customs and structures of their academic or creative groups, students not only develop fundamental skills but also a sense of community.
I think these are used differently in different subjects. I recognise mimesis used frequently in language teaching, and synthesis when looking at underlying concepts in science. to begin with students need to know what the knowledge should look like. then they can begin to recreate it in different scenarios.
these documents show how education has upgraded over the years
these documents clearly show us 3 pedagogical approaches: mimesis, synthesis and reflexivity. If I had to choose one, I would choose synthesis. Because today, we notice that children have other centres of interest that differ according to their age, their environment and their culture. using their passion to teach them academic concepts would be the best part of the learning process.
This course is a good way of making us aware of the diversity of approaches and what could be done better.
It so nice that we can learn new learning strategies here in coursera. In just one click, there are new thing we get toknow. And one of the topics I liked the most is about the Modern Past, as I understand. New genereations need more technologicval advancement and must focus on the students learning development but as well as the past style.
It is extrenmely interesting and useful to study material through real life experience. For example, I was so interested in Churchil's experience in Education.