Category Archives: Critical pedagogy

Reclaiming Lurking

Lurking is a potential problem for theories of social constructivism and principles of active learning. It’s also a problem for data analytics – if the student is not VISIBLE, how do we KNOW that they are learning? The invisible are … Continue reading

Posted in #CLMOOC, #rhizo15, Academia, Critical pedagogy, Facebook, Learning, Online learning, Peer interaction, PhD, Teaching | Tagged , , , , , | 16 Comments

Cargo Cults

Arthur C. Clarke’s Third Law states that “any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic”. I think that’s probably true of many things and not just limited to technology – that many things that others do look like magic from the outside. … Continue reading

Posted in #CLMOOC, Capitalism, Critical pedagogy, DS106, Learning, MOOC, Online learning, Peer interaction, PhD, Rhizomes, Social Media, Teaching, Technology, University | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

Ticky-tacky feedback

I’ve had two things on my mind this week – the first is the amazing cover of Little Boxes by Walk off the Earth: (this is a serious earworm – catchy tune and lyrics which are political satire as relevant … Continue reading

Posted in Critical pedagogy, Jigsaw Technique, Learning, Peer interaction, Teaching, Twisted Pair, University | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Sapere Aude

In 1784 Kant asked a question: What is Enlightenment? His answer was that it was having the courage to use one’s own reason: Sapere Aude –  dare to be wise. In order for this to happen, he said, we must be free … Continue reading

Posted in #MoocMooc, Critical pedagogy, Philosophy | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

The pedagogical is always political

I grew up hearing the feminist mantra that “the personal is political” (I always misquote that, and add an “always”, maybe because I believe it needs to be emphasised). It means different things to different people, but to me it … Continue reading

Posted in #MoocMooc, Critical pedagogy | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Posh white boys

There’s a common assumption that there is a gender bias in STEM subjects in HE, but a recent study released in Science has discovered that this is not  actually the real story, and that actually philosophy is among the five subjects with the … Continue reading

Posted in #MoocMooc, Critical pedagogy, Philosophy, University | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Walk this way

Critical pedagogy, it is suggested, is an approach that shows, rather than tells.  In a similar vein, Wittgenstein tells us don’t think, but look!1 So am I walking the way I want to walk?  Are students really  well advised to … Continue reading

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