A brief introduction to pedagogy

Pedagogy in medical education refers to the practice and study of teaching methods and approaches used to educate medical students. It is a broad field that encompasses various perspectives, including psychology, philosophy, and sociology.

'Learning is not the product of teaching. Learning is the product of the activity of learners.' John Holt 


 ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.'”  ? W.B Yeats

Behaviourism


Behaviorism is a theory of learning and behavior that emphasizes the role of observable behaviors and their consequences. Behaviorists believe that all behavior is learned through conditioning, which is the process of learning new behaviors through association with other stimuli.

Cognitivism 


Cognitivism is a theory of learning and behavior that focuses on the mental processes involved in learning. Cognitivists believe that people learn by actively processing information, rather than simply passively receiving it. An example of this is when students reflect on their experience. 

Constructivism - learners construct their own learning (they are not empty vessels)


Constructivism is a theory of learning that suggests that learners construct their own knowledge through active learning experiences. Constructivists believe that knowledge is not simply transmitted from teacher to student, but rather that students must actively engage with the world around them in order to learn.


Social learning theory - we learn with and from others 


Social learning theory is a theory proposed by psychologist Albert Bandura that explains how people learn in social settings. He focused on observation, imitation, and modelling. 

Situated learning and communities of practice - we learn in real places as a community of learners 


Situated learning is a theory of learning that emphasizes the importance of learning in context. Situated learning theorists believe that learning is best achieved when it is embedded in real-world activities and experiences. Learners start at the periphery and move into the core group of learners. 

Humanistic learning theories and liberationism 


Humanistic learning theories are a group of educational theories that emphasize the importance of the whole person in the learning process. Humanistic learning theorists believe that learners are motivated to learn and grow, and that they learn best in a supportive and nurturing environment.


Liberationist educators believe that education should be used to empower students to challenge the status quo and create a more just society. Paulo Freire (1921-1997) was a Brazilian educator and philosopher who was a leading advocate of critical pedagogy.  Critical pedagogy is a theory of education that emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and social justice. Critical pedagogues believe that education should be used to empower students to challenge the status quo and create a more just society.

Authenticity 


Task fidelity or authenticity in medical education refers to the degree to which a learning environment accurately reflects the real-world clinical setting. This includes factors such as the realism of the equipment, the complexity of the tasks, and the level of interaction with other learners and standardized patients.

Connectivism 


Connectivism is a learning theory that emphasizes the importance of networks and connections in the learning process. Connectivists believe that knowledge is distributed across a network of people and resources, and that learning is a process of connecting to and navigating these networks.

Pedagogy of kindness 


Pedagogy of kindness is a teaching approach that emphasizes the importance of kindness, compassion, and empathy in the learning process. It is based on the belief that all students are capable of learning and succeeding, and that a kind and supportive learning environment is essential for all students to thrive.

Pedagogy of kindness is not just about being nice. It is about creating a classroom community where all students feel safe, respected, and valued. It is about teaching students how to be kind to themselves and others, and how to resolve conflict peacefully. It is also about creating a learning environment that is inclusive and accessible to all students

List of other pedagogies and educational theories 

https://sites.google.com/view/zteach/notes/my-experience-of-pedagogy 


Summary 

Pedagogy allows us to think about how we can deliver and improve student learning experiences, which ultimately improves patient care. The best pedagogical approach to use depends on multiple factors including the topic, learners, and context. 


Pragmatic approaches 

References 

Greatteaching.com. (2019). Great Teaching Toolkit. [online] Available at: https://www.greatteaching.com / 

Dennick, R. (2016). Constructivism: reflections on twenty five years teaching the constructivist approach in medical education. International Journal of Medical Education, 7, 200-205. https://doi.org/10.5116/ijme.5763.de11