Identify why Paulo Freire was an important educational figure

Describe Freire's educational pedagogy

Paulo Freire's pedagogy of education places a large emphasis on students and how they can influence the world around them. Freire believed in liberatory education-- a concept where students and teachers work side by side as critical investigators of the world around them. By questioning the world and the problems around them, students "come to see the world not as a static reality, but as a reality in process" (Beckett, 2013). Part of this pedagogy involves looking at and analyzing the past so that students can wisely build the future. In liberatory education, students are encouraged to produce and act upon their own ideas, rather than blindly consume the ideas of others. Another key factor of Freire's pedagogy is the creation of the critical consciousness. The idea of the critical consciousness "allows people to question the nature of their historical and social situation—to read their world—with the goal of acting as subjects in the creation of a democratic society" (Bentley, 2014).

According to Jane Currell in her article, Paulo Freire: the pioneer of critical pedagogy, there are a few simple ways that educators can incorporate Freire's ideas into the classroom. These examples are:

• Giving students choices when it comes to assignments and using your role as an educator to act as a guide.

• Incorporating research-based projects into the curriculum. By encouraging students to do research, you allow them to filter through different opinions on a topic and form their own.

• Thinking carefully about the texts and resources you present in the classroom. Are they reflective of a diversity of sexes, ethnicities, and socio-economic perspectives?

Paulo Freire has been recognized around the world for his various contributions and impact on education today. He received numerous awards in his lifetime such as the "King Balduin Prize for International Development, the Prize for Outstanding Christian Educators in 1985..., and the UNESCO 1986 Prize for Education for Peace" (Bentley). Overall, Paulo Freire believed that the exchange of dialogue between students and teachers was a crucial component of education and that it helped cultivate an environment where students and teachers could learn from each other, question each other, and reflect on the world around them.

1. What was Paulo Freire best know for?

a. Discouraging his students from thinking for themselves and questioning their socio-economic situations

b. Founding one of the first major colleges in Brazil

c. Incorporating technology into his classroom instruction

d. Using his role as an educator to encourage students to form their critical conscience and analyze the world around them

2. What is one way to incorporate Paulo Freire's educational pedagogy into the classroom?

a. Implementing only selected response assessments in the classroom

b. Incorporating research-based projects into the curriculum

c. Limiting students choices and input on assignments

d. Using only teacher-centered instruction in the classroom

Beckett, K. S. (2013). Paulo Freire and the Concept of Education. Educational Philosophy & Theory, 45(1), 49–62. https://doi.org/10.1080/00131857.2012.715385

Bentley, L. (2014). A Brief Biography of Paulo Freire. Pedagogy and Theatre of the Oppressed, Inc. https://ptoweb.org/aboutpto/a-brief-biography-of-paulo-freire/

Currell, J. (2020). Paulo Freire: The pioneer of critical pedagogy. Maths – No Problem!, https://mathsnoproblem.com/blog/teaching-practice/paulo-freire-pioneer-of-critical-pedagogy/