Sociocultural Pedagogies Research Articles

Plurality and identity: on the educational relations between chemistry and physics

We present an approach to the question of the educational relations between chemistry and physics based on the one hand, on an inferentialist account of scientific representation (Suárez M., (2024), Inference and Representation. A Study in Modelling Science, Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press). On the other, we have drawn on the notion of science identities, as is currently used in science education. We argue that the representational practices of chemistry are the key competencies for the development of a chemistry identity. We extrapolate this conclusion to physics. The problem of representational plurality, that is, that some objects can be represented divergently in these sciences is thus linked to that of identity plurality, to the question of whether it is possible for a person to simultaneously hold a chemistry and a physics identity. We study the educational implications of this situation within the framework of Lev Vygotsky's sociocultural pedagogy to conclude that the difficulties inherent to representational plurality in chemistry and physics are sociological: university degrees are built around a single, well-defined, identity, thus tending to exclude any form of plurality that compromises this uniformity. As an application of these conclusions, we have studied the question of the introduction of the quantum description of molecules in chemistry education at an undergraduate level. We conclude that this introduction should not be based on the molecular orbitals approach but, instead, on the valence bond method.

Sociocultural-based Subject-Specific-Pedagogy as an Effort to Strengthen the Pancasila Student Profile

The development of sociocultural-based subject-specific pedagogy is an important approach in increasing understanding and appreciation of Pancasila values at the elementary school level. This approach integrates social, cultural and contextual aspects in learning subjects related to Pancasila. Sociocultural pedagogy equips students with the knowledge and skills to apply these values in various aspects of their lives, which can lead to positive societal change. Sociocultural pedagogy encourages the development of real-world skills such as communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, which are essential for applying Pancasila values in practical situations. This research aims to produce a sociocultural-based Subject Specific Pedagogy product as an effort to strengthen the profile of Pancasila students in elementary schools. This research is research and development with the development method used, namely the 4D model. The subjects of this research were validators, teachers and fourth grade elementary school students. The types of research data are qualitative and quantitative data. The data collection instruments are validation questionnaires and practicality questionnaires. The research results show that the product developed has a product validity of 3.99 in the Valid category, and a practicality level of 4.32 in the very practical category. It can be concluded that the sociocultural-based Subject Specific Pedagogy product as an effort to strengthen the Pancasila student profile of elementary school students is suitable for use in the learning process.

Becoming competent global educators: Pre-service teachers’ global engagement and critical examination of human capital discourse in glocalized contexts

By investigating 28 pre-service teachers’ learning in a comparative and international education course at a Chinese university, this case study examined how to foster teacher students’ global competence, through their global engagement and critical dialogue with human capital discourse that focuses on measurement, competitiveness, and accountability for human capital building and quality. This study revealed that participants’ motives, efforts, and capability in acquiring global competence were affected by global human capital discourse. Results suggest teacher education programs use critical sociocultural pedagogy to empower teacher candidates to be involved in global engagement, learning, and interaction, challenge human capital discourse at global and local levels, critically reflect on sustainable, humanistic, and moral educational goals and take actions, and become competent global educators.

Teaching English as an additional language for social participation: digital technology in an immersion programme

ABSTRACT This paper analyses conceptualizations of digital technology use that are aligned with sociocultural pedagogies of language learning, proposing a framework for developing sociocultural language pedagogies through digital technology use and presenting the language education workshops offered for high school students as embodying the principles of such a perspective. The paper is grounded on a sociocultural perspective of learning. Data gathering occurred in the New Talents Program, which is the background of the instructional material developed for the immersion week “Digital technologies and English language learning”. We conclude by discussing some opportunities and challenges for sociocultural pedagogies of language learning through digital literacies.

Perezhivanie and the silent phenomenon in infant care: Rethinking socioculturally informed infant pedagogy

Caring for infants is a significant cultural activity, yet the subjective nature of this work has received little attention in socioculturally informed infant pedagogies. This article presents an alternative way of conceptualising the subjective and affective nature of infant care, and critiques the ‘downward’ sociological focus applied by many who advocate sociocultural approaches. The argument is made that Vygotsky’s theoretical concept of perezhivanie allows for the presence of subjective and affective phenomena in sociocultural pedagogies, and extends understanding of the role of adult emotion in infant caregiving. Capturing teachers’ subjective affect, however, creates methodological difficulties. Challenges are discussed in light of others’ studies investigating the impacts of internal phenomena in infant caregiving. The concept of ‘absent’ yet significant data is introduced and the validity of exploring ‘silent phenomena’ discussed. This article extends on discussion and issues raised in ‘ Perezhivanie: What have we missed about infant care?’, published in Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood in 2014.

Children's Theorising about Their World: Exploring the Practitioner's Role

THE DEVELOPMENT OF ‘WORKING THEORIES’ is a key learning outcome for New Zealand's early childhood curriculum Te Whāriki (MoE, 1996, p. 44). Working theories are described as combinations of knowledge, skills and attitudes which support children's developing understanding of the world, and guide their actions, problem solving and learning. This article reports research into the working theories of a group of children in one early childhood setting, and argues that working theories serve a variety of purposes linked to effective action within children's specific sociocultural contexts. This, and the fact that the social and cultural context provides resources with which children construct working theories, is used to argue a case for sociocultural pedagogies to support children in creating and modifying working theories. A case study is provided from the author's research. With recognition that the implementation of sociocultural pedagogies is somewhat difficult for early childhood practitioners (Anning, Cullen & Fleer, 2004), the article offers some specific strategies related to supporting children's working theories.

Bharatanatyam and Transnational Literacy Through SocioCultural Pedagogy

This qualitative research paper intends to examine the socio-cultural pedagogies in Bharatanatyam. As an attempt to educate non-Bharatanatyam dancers and dance education researchers, this study focuses on an extensive literature review including data driven studies and position papers. Bharatanatyam, learned using socio-cultural tenets is a valuable Asian Indian artistic and transnational literacy tool. This paper is also an attempt to analyze studies on ballet and flamenco and other scholarly and researched articles on Bharatnatyam. Absence of cognitive benefits of Bharatanatyam in research studies and scholarly articles impacts dance education and Asian Indian children living in the west.

Supporting socialisation in the transition to university: A potential use for on-line discussion boards

Background Promoting socialisation for students entering Higher Education is desirable on two grounds. In the first instance it facilitates the processes of student collaboration which, according to sociocultural pedagogies, is important for effective learning. Secondly, it provides a supportive social network, enhancing the student experience which is thought to reduce the risk of attrition. These two drivers provided the rationale for our work. Method Using the Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment, two on-line discussion boards were used during the transition and induction period for the BSc (Hons) Diagnostic Radiography programme at the University of Salford. The aim was to facilitate socialisation between students about to embark on the programme and current students and staff. The use of discussion boards was evaluated using a mixed methods approach. Statistical data regarding postings was analysed. Posts and focus group comments were subject to content analysis. Results The discussion boards were ‘hit’ 5718 times and there were 280 posts. A small number of students did not post any messages. There was evidence of the key features of on-line socialisation which were; establishing an identity; getting to know others; discovering and contributing to communication etiquette; and developing supporting and trusting relationships. Conclusion The discussion boards were deemed a successful method of providing socialisation during transition and induction. There were some limitations with discussion board layout and functionality and a blog, with its chronological layout and capability to display visual cues such as emoticons may be more effective. The limited participation by some students may provide a means by which to identify ‘at-risk’ students before the start of the course and this would be an interesting area for further study.

Usable Pedagogies: Usability, Rhetoric, and Sociocultural Pedagogy in the Technical Writing Classroom

This article explores the ways that the discourse of usability might support a socially oriented pedagogy within technical communication. Specifically, it explores two approaches to usability—user-centered design and distributed usability—and suggests that the conversation between these approaches can ground socially responsive discussions of technology and technical communication. As such, the discourse of usability provides a field-specific means to address increasing calls for socially situated pedagogies within the field of technical communication.

Modeling Sociocultural Pedagogy in Distance Education

Increasing numbers of English as a second language (ESL) learners throughout the United States have created an urgent need for professional development for millions of teachers. Distance education offers an opportunity for high-quality professional development to be delivered to collaborative teams of teachers at local school sites. However, research has shown that effectively meeting the needs of second language learners requires sociocultural pedagogy. The challenge has been to develop an approach to distance education that attends to sociocultural perspectives of learning and models sociocultural pedagogy. In developing a bilingual/ESL endorsement program, teacher educators at Brigham Young University have met this challenge with the ProfessorsPlus model for sociocultural pedagogy in distance education. This article describes this innovative approach to distance education.

Modeling Sociocultural Pedagogy in Distance Education

Increasing numbers of English as a second language (ESL) learners throughout the United States have created an urgent need for professional development for millions of teachers. Distance education offers an opportunity for high-quality professional development to be delivered to collaborative teams of teachers at local school sites. However, research has shown that effectively meeting the needs of second language learners requires sociocultural pedagogy. The challenge has been to develop an approach to distance education that attends to sociocultural perspectives of learning and models sociocultural pedagogy. In developing a bilingual/ESL endorsement program, teacher educators at Brigham Young University have met this challenge with the ProfessorsPlus model for sociocultural pedagogy in distance education. This article describes this innovative approach to distance education.

Principles and Practices of Sociocultural Assessment: Foundations for Effective Strategies for Linguistically Diverse Classrooms

Increasing numbers of English as a Second Language (ESL) learners throughout the United States have created an urgent need for strategies that teachers can use to meet the needs of all students in their classrooms. Research has shown that effectively meeting the needs of second language learners requires appropriate goals for learning, standards-based curriculum, sociocultural pedagogy, and assessment that is coherent with these practices. This article provides assessment principles and practices that are coherent with the sociocultural perspective and emphasizes four assessment accommodations that are appropriate for ESL learners in mainstream classrooms.

The Grit in the Oyster – does an appreciation of threshold concepts in an adult literacies teaching qualification result in pearls of practice

This paper draws from the experiences of a new adult literacies teaching qualification in Scotland that has been designed for experienced but unqualified adult literacies tutors. Created to respond to an approach to adult literacies as social practices (Scottish Executive 2001, 2005, Tett et al 2006), the course team employs a sociocultural pedagogy that explicitly rejects transmission and seeks to build critical reflection through learning from experience, collaborative activities and the creation of an on-line community (Ackland and Wallace 2006). Recognising that ‘moments of conflict and disjuncture may form the spaces in which learning occurs’ (Lewis, Enciso and Moje 2007:5) the paper explores whether ideas about liminality and threshold concepts (Cousin 2006:1, Land, Meyer and Smith 2008) illuminate the learning process. It concludes that engagement with these concepts may assist adult literacies tutors to develop transformed practice (Cope and Kalantzis 2003:35).