Developing Competent Pedagogy

Abstract

This chapter, which is structured in four parts, introduces tertiary-level design educators to the state of design pedagogy today and describes how design educators can strengthen their pedagogy through applied theory, research, and practice. “Part 1: What is a Teacher?” examines the advanced pedagogical role of the design educator (the “teacher-mentor”). “Part 2: The Model Three: What We Can Learn from Singapore, South Korea, and Finland” examines three internationally esteemed teacher-education programs and support systems that rigorously train educators for this advanced role. Select strategies are provided as examples of how US design education may utilize these nations’ best practices in teacher preparation and support. “Part 3: Critically Reflective Teaching” discusses this specific type of teaching practice through the purpose of reflection, its fundamental tenets, the ways it can be promoted, and its subsequent beneficial impacts on teaching and student development. “Part 4: What Makes an Effective Educator?” is presented by Dr. Katherine Boles, former program director at Harvard University's Graduate School of Education. In this part, Dr. Boles describes the core components that underlie all effective teaching. In all four parts—regardless of academic settings and student demographics—core pedagogical attributes and support systems are presented and discussed and subsequently can be utilized by tertiary-level design educators.