You have come to the last Update/Reflection, well done!!
Here is this week -
What is the role of education and educators in using CEL to promote Critical GCE?
(150 – 200 words).
Please post your reflection by Friday so this can give others time to respond.
On the homestetch, keep it up, everyone!
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Lee Anne Lavender
Cat Ho
Kara Francis
Rodrigo Abrantes da Silva.png "Wendy Mockler")
Wendy Mockler
The iron cage is one that will always be there. It may be that no matter how hard we try there will always be one as long as there are people who wish to gain the sole benefit. We, as a global society, will just create a new one though I have hope that people will change with more awareness and time into a society where all benefit. Once we can overcome the fear mongering of lack that is. While CEL may or may not dismantle the iron cage, it can certainly start breaking through the bars that keep us locked in this cage of our own making. Perhaps going back to a “simpler way of life “ is the key. A life where we all matter and can exchange goods and services based on what we need not what we think we need. Awareness and mindfulness are key factors here and it is starting to be adopted by some in various ways however, these are broad concepts that need to be unpacked. Hopefully we will realise more and more with time and sharing of experiences as our world becomes smaller, how we impact each other globally even though we live in our bubbles. Maybe we should question the status quo of what true power (acting within our abilities) actually means so that we can work towards a global society where we each feel that we can make a difference. It may start with thinking critically about ourselves and how we are being manipulated or shall we say how we are allowing ourselves to be manipulated.
I liked the idea of integration of critical thinking and critical education. I think both of them are extremely important for educators in promotion Critical GCE. One focuses on critical analysis of the process and another one stresses an importance of action. I think it is crucial to demonstrate to the students an action-based model of education with the solid foundation in critical thinking. The students need to see examples of successful (or unsuccessful) implementation of what has been discussed in the classroom. This will enable them to become active learners and enthusiastic implementers in the future.
@Kristina
That's an interesting way to delineate the 2 - that critical thinking can tend to be more situated in the realm of ideas, while critical pedagogy in action. I think in this way, CEL is trying to do both - strengthen the thinking so there can be more purposeful action.
I like the action based model of education. It would be great to have a knowledge bank to refer to when showing examples in real time. In Art it can become confusing for the student to differentiate between the two (analysis/process related to themselves versus established artists and the sketchbooks) so we constantly keep previous works of great examples compared to ones that are not so great.
I always think that as an educator, we need to be aware of the limitation of what we are proposing to the students. We might not have the solution to how we can fix the problem but at least we need to be aware of it and make a slow transition. I am happy to say that I am now more confident in empowering my students.
@Cat Ho, after being empowered in our CEL sessions, I will make it a norm and consistently invite students to critique the assumptions made in science. If it is a model use to explain science phenomena, for example particle model theory. I would also add that to criticize something does not always mean you have to provide an alternative explanation but simple be aware of the limitation when applying the model.
@ Tammy
Hi Tammy, so glad to hear you feel more confident in empowering your students. Can you share a bit more what
1. empowering your students look like to you?
2. how did this happen for you where you have gained confidence to do so?
I liked your comment, i think one needs enough courage to acknowledge openly in class that you do not know the answer to all the questions. But, i believe, the students will appreciate the honesty and, by seeing there is no end of learning, will be more motivated to explore independently various questions.
Appreciate the comments made about awareness. We do live within our own space which can create a comfortable bubble. Having awareness and making the decision to use it can only benefit us all in the long run to make change a possibility for better future outcomes.