Dialectics—The Arts of Teaching and Learning in Social Work Education

Abstract

This paper starts with an introduction to the concept of dialectics in the West and East, followed with a review of its use in social work and social work education. The complexities and contradictions embedded in the teaching and learning process are pointed out, and a dialectical approach is proposed as a compatible tool for its understanding. Drawing on the works of Elbow (1986), Palmer (1998), Jarvis (1993), Van Manen (1991) and Moore (1998), discussion is made on the following pairs of opposites such as ‘teaching and assessing’, ‘familiarity and novelty’, ‘participative and non‐participative’, ‘intellect and emotion’ etc. with a dialectical stance. Attention is called to the co‐existence of these opposites. It is argued that complementarity, confrontation, interplay, connectedness and alternation between these opposites may bring greater understanding, transformation and enhancement of the quality of teaching. It is hoped that the discussion of these dialectical forces at work in teaching and learning would bring meaningful challenges and promising direction for further development in social work education.