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Sunday 7 July 2013

Eduspeak Part 3

Androgogy - this sounds like something that google phone freaks would like, with their androids in tow.  In fact, it is a term that I prefer to pedagogy because pedagogy somehow implies that the teacher is the expert in learning and looks down benignly on "those who must be educated."
Androgogy is the science or art of teaching adults or your peers.  It has been used extensively in adult education.  Today, there is a paradigm shift happening and teachers are being urged to think of themselves as the guide on the side rather than the sage on the stage.  So you are no longer the font of all knowledge.  You are fellow travelers in the learning journey.
Androgogy implies that you are teaching and learning alongside your peers.  This is why I like this word in preference to pedagogy when applied in the classroom.  Of course, the teacher is often the well seasoned traveller but as all travelling buddies know, you don't exclude going to one destination because you havent been there before.  Try it, you may like it!

2 comments:

  1. Absolutely agree on this. I blogged on this sometime ago when admitting to a certain amount of weariness with how overused the term "pedagogy" is - http://cantanet.org/2011/10/25/thoughts-teaching-vs-learning/

    How about taking it a step further - heutagogy! http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/1076/2113

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  2. Haha, hadn't even heard of that one, Darren! I will leave that one for people to google!!

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