Transformative Pedagogy Research Articles

Fostering inclusivity: Transforming South African school music programmes through the dalcroze approach

This article explores the transformative potential of the Dalcroze Approach in South African school music programs, with a focus on fostering cultural inclusivity. Employing a qualitative research methodology grounded in content analysis, the study systematically examines diverse sources, including archival materials, books, and peer-reviewed journal articles. The triangulation method enhances the robustness of data by cross-referencing information from platforms like Google Scholar, JSTOR, ResearchGate, and university repositories. The Dalcroze Approach, rooted in holistic and embodied learning experiences, emerges as a transformative pedagogy with the capacity to address historical disparities and celebrate South Africa's diverse musical traditions. Findings indicate a compelling alignment between the approach and inclusivity goals, emphasising the adaptability of the Dalcroze principles to the nation's cultural tapestry. The findings of this article reveal that educators, administrators, and students play pivotal roles in shaping the success of implementing the Dalcroze Approach. Educators witness positive impacts on student engagement and creativity, administrators recognise its strategic value, and students experience a transformative shift in their music learning journey. In conclusion, this article advocates for comprehensive professional development programs, collaboration with curriculum developers, and ongoing research initiatives to ensure the sustained integration of the Dalcroze Approach. By embracing this transformative pedagogy, South African music education can evolve into a more inclusive and culturally responsive domain, reflecting the nation's rich musical heritage.

Carving space to learn for sustainable futures

This article addresses the pressing need to reimagine education for sustainable futures amidst the socioecological crises of our time. Grounded in the recognition of modernity as profoundly alienating and unsustainable, we argue for an education informed by theory, critical pedagogies and critical sustainability research. Through an example from our own teaching practice, where we focused on pace, place, connections and modes of engagement, we demonstrate how adult educators can draw on theory to deliberately shape teaching. Highlighting the unsustainability of social acceleration, we encourage educators to slow down and carve out a space for profound engagement with sustainability. Drawing on diverse theoretical frameworks, we propose an approach that cultivates a sense of embeddedness in place and connection to oneself, others and the natural world. Finally, we argue that education for sustainable futures necessitates a departure from modernist paradigms, inviting educators to envision transformative pedagogies that foster critical awareness and societal change.

Divided by policy, united by resilience: Using transformative pedagogy to impact prospective teachers in all contexts

As American teacher educators and teachers are being roiled by restrictive legislation around critical race theory and divisive concepts in some states, our investigation explored the impact of critical communities of practice (CoP) on redesigning and teaching introduction to education courses with a transformative lens. This manuscript details the collaboration of four equity-minded teacher educators, each representing unique institutional and political contexts. While two authors taught in states which promote culturally sustaining pedagogies, the other two authors taught in states that had passed laws restricting the professional autonomy of educators and honest discussions of race and racism. Participation in this critical CoP as a support group enabled us to better understand and navigate our dichotomous policy contexts and renewed our commitment to teaching prospective teachers to be politically conscious and empowered to teach in anti-racist ways. Our CoP was instrumental in helping us recognize that transformative pedagogies and collaboration are effective tools that can provide much needed support to teacher educators across policy contexts, while we simultaneously strive to prepare teacher candidates who will teach in culturally sustaining ways.

Transformative Pedagogies: Cultivating Educators for 21st Century Graduates

Transformative Pedagogies: Cultivating Educators for 21st Century Graduates

Place-responsive principles of sustainable networked learning

This work builds on the work of Hodgson and McConnell by extending the principles of networked learning to incorporate aspects of place-responsive pedagogy and sustainable education. Place[1]responsive education is traditionally situated within the outdoor education field, and invites a deeper recognition of the interwoven nature of learning. It aligns with a postdigital perspective of networked learning, embracing the complex entanglement of learners, environment, technology and everything else. Sustainable education focuses on the creative, participative and reflexive processes which underpin transformative pedagogies, recognising the importance of collaboration and time. The goal is learning to live sustainably as part of the ecosystem. This extension of the principles was undertaken in order to strengthen the recognition of place and place-knowledge as part of the postdigital network, to find a way to give voice to the non-human participants in the learning environment. It will also demonstrate how networked learning is a sustainable educational approach. I will start by outlining the place-responsive framework that will guide the review of the principles. This will be followed by an overview of sustainable education, explaining what role this plays in networked learning and the importance in developing future-proof skills. Next, the eight principles will be extended, building on the framework. Finally, a case example will illustrate how this can be applied in practice.

Exploring student support, class solidarity and transformative pedagogy: insights from Working Class Academics

This article aims to deepen understanding of the assets within working-class academics (WCA). It is organised into three themes: 1) Class Solidarity, 2) Supporting Students, and 3) A WCA Pedagogy. Within Class Solidarity, the study reveals class unity demonstrated through shared experiences and joint efforts in creating spaces for working-class voices. Supporting Students discusses how WCAs provide unique support, addressing the challenges faced by nontraditional students and aiding in the construction of professional identities. The findings also suggest the possibility of a distinctive WCA pedagogy. This potential approach to teaching includes elements such as incorporating lived experiences, adopting a strengths-based perspective, encouraging the co-creation of knowledge, and integrating social justice principles. These components, if indeed characteristic of WCA teaching methods, could represent a transformative pedagogical framework. However, further comparative research is needed to confirm the extent to which these elements are unique to or more prevalent among WCAs.

Service-learning Pedagogy: A Pathway to Empowering Students as A Catalyst for Sustainable Tourism Development through Civic Engagement and Community Development

The field of education for sustainable development advocates for new teaching methods that offer hands-on, engaging, and transformative learning experiences that encourage critical and systemic thinking within the framework of sustainable development. Higher education institutions strive to support the attainment of SDG 4 by promoting inclusive, fair, and high-quality education. Service-learning in higher education is in tune with the educational principles of critical and transformative pedagogy and facilitated through implementation of innovative pedagogical approaches in training professionals that will be socially critical and committed to social transformation, with the goal of achieving a larger social justice. Consequently, one of the major challenges attributed to the lack of social practice and community service in the learning environment leads to the detachment of students to the community, as well as the low social responsibility among the undergraduates. The study aimed to fill the research gap in the literature on the impact of service-learning pedagogies among students based on knowledge, attitude, and spirit and how it is correlated with professional development, personal development, social transactions. Furthermore, this study highlights how civic engagement and sustainable community development, the integral components of service-learning, contribute to and align with the principles of sustainable tourism. By connecting these elements, the research emphasizes the multifaceted benefits of service-learning in shaping socially responsible professionals and fostering sustainable tourism

(Co)constructing hybrid, transformative, and democratic Third Spaces in a heritage language classroom for Asian American transnational students

Employing the Third Space as a theoretical framework, the present study explores how the teacher and transnational students co-constructed a transformative Third Space in their fifth-grade Korean heritage language classroom. The teacher implemented transnational literacy practices and transformative pedagogy by embracing the students’ linguistic hybridity and cultural diversity from their dynamic transnational lifeworld. The findings reveal that transnationally inclusive literature works as a great medium and a powerful pedagogical tool for the students in utilizing their transnational funds of knowledge, incorporating translanguaging, and (re)constructing their multifarious identities. The fluid classroom discourses during their literature discussions provided possibilities and opportunities for the Third Space to be established and developed in the classroom as a hybrid, transformative, and democratic learning space. This study provides educators and researchers insights into the unique ways that both teachers and students can collaboratively create Third Spaces in learning contexts to offer hybrid, transformational, and democratic educational experiences.

Implementing Translanguaging as Transformative Pedagogy in an English Medium Secondary School in Indonesia

Implementing Translanguaging as Transformative Pedagogy in an English Medium Secondary School in Indonesia

Verbatim theatre as a creative approach to health professions education research translation.

Traditionally, the impact and outcomes from health professions education research (HPER) have focused on academic outputs, whereas in the humanities, research translation is conceptualised more broadly and creatively, including research-based performances like verbatim theatre. Translating HPER findings through the emotive and embodied nature of a verbatim theatre performance provides a unique opportunity to translate research data and create alternative learning spaces for rich and valuable insights that aligns with transformative pedagogy. In this paper, we describe the background of verbatim theatre, a form of performance, which draws on a research participants' testimony and lived experience and how we used this creative approach to translate HPER findings. We discuss the experiential process of bringing an interdisciplinary team together, health professions academics and an academic playwright to craft a verbatim theatre script that provided space to honour the breadth, depth and diversity of participant voices from a large (n = 100) qualitative research study exploring professionalism and sociocultural factors in health professions education (HPE). Furthermore, we discuss the powerful potential of drawing on research-based performance to create alternative, safe and non-threatening learning spaces to resonate with and experience HPER in new and transformative ways. Finally, we offer reflexive insights on the key opportunities and challenges we encountered in translating HPER into a verbatim theatre performance. Verbatim theatre presents an innovative and creative way to communicate and translate HPER. This paper offers research and pedagogical insights in translating research into verbatim theatre to support transformative pedagogy and practice in HPE. In conclusion, we encourage other health professions researchers to consider this dynamic and creative approach to transforming HPE.

Transformative Pedagogies: Innovations in 21st Century Education

This study investigates the impact of transformative pedagogies on language teaching, focusing on improvements in language proficiency, critical thinking skills, and intercultural competence among learners. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, data were collected through surveys, interviews, and classroom observations. The findings reveal that students exposed to transformative pedagogies demonstrated a 20% increase in language proficiency test scores and enhanced critical thinking abilities. Additionally, these students reported greater confidence and capability in engaging with diverse cultural contexts. The study highlights the need for professional development and institutional support to effectively implement these pedagogies. Future research should explore larger-scale and longitudinal studies to further validate these findings and identify best practices for transformative pedagogy in language education.

Revolutionary Teaching Approaches

Particular emphasis on the Outcome-Based Education (OBE) paradigm, this research aims to investigate the innovative teaching approaches used in Pakistan's educational system. Pakistan is encountering several obstacles to preparing its educational system for the 21st century's demands. As a result, there is a crucial need for innovative methods of instruction. To solve the inadequacies associated with conventional learning methods that rely on memory, transformative pedagogies emphasise student-centred modern ideas and practices. This research investigates the adoption of online learning environments (OBE) in Pakistani schools and its impact on learner participation, critical thinking, and adaptability. The document acknowledges both possibilities and problems, especially about incorporating technology. Some of the constraints include limited resources and cultural expectations. A methodology that utilises many methods, including interviews, observations, and document analysis, was used during an academic year to contribute to the results. The findings of the study indicate that there are a variety of ways in which OBE is implemented, that there is a positive connection between transformational pedagogies and learner engagement, and that there are disparate effects on students at various educational levels. Among the suggestions that have been made in light of the findings are establishing a uniform OBE framework, developing faculty, and including technology. The long-term impacts and the influence of technology and community participation will be the prime focus of study in the future. The findings of this study provide essential insights that may be used to develop a dynamic educational system in Pakistan that can accommodate the demanding requirements of the changing global scene.

The Effects of Attending High Individual and Collective Teacher Efficacy Schools on Ninth Grade On-Track

Ninth grade on-track is predictive of high school graduation, more than race, socio-economic status, and prior achievement combined. Although initiatives characterized by an intense focus on the ninth-grade year are being increasingly implemented, research has not fully documented and tested mechanisms linked to improved outcomes. Using survey and transcript-level data and causal mediation analysis, this study tests the effects of students attending high teacher efficacy (self and collective—TSE and CTE) schools on ninth grade on-track in an urban school district in a northeast state in the United States. It further examines the extent to which ambitious instructional practices, defined as culturally relevant and transformative pedagogy, mediate the effects of TSE on ninth grade on-track and how levels of supportive school culture moderate these relationships. The findings indicate that urban ninth-graders attending schools with high TSE and CTE are more likely to be on track at the end of ninth grade. Additionally, the direct effect of students attending a school with high TSE was mediated by the level of ambitious instruction. We discuss implications for teacher education (TE) and professional development.

Νέοι εκπαιδευτικοί, νέες συνθήκες και νέα εργαλεία για την εκπαίδευση παιδιών με μεταναστευτικό και προσφυγικό υπόβαθρο

The main objective of the Language Curriculum is to make the educational system responsive to the new conditions that have emerged in schools. Considering the requirements of the Curricula, new learning tools were used in this research and were applied in the context of language teaching at primary schools at the Department of Primary Education, University of the Aegean. These tools included a combination of theories, i.e. Cummins' (2005) theory for the development of Academic Language Proficiency, approaches about New Learning (Kalantzis & Cope, 2005) and Transformative Pedagogy (Cummins, 2005; Kalantzis & Cope, 2013). The aim of the research was for future teachers to learn how to support the multilingual students in schools in critically processing the diverse textual types in the language lessons, thereby achieving both the development of linguistic and communicative competence and the interaction of the school community with the wider society.

Service-learning: An Empirically Driven and Transformational Pedagogy to Develop Psychologically Literate Citizens for Contemporary Challenges

Service-learning can produce timely paradigmatic shifts in the psychology curriculum and in teaching practices. This innovative pedagogy enhances students’ academic learning, personal growth, civic development, and professional development. Service-learning pedagogy also has the potential of enhancing students’ understanding of, and commitment to, “glocal” (global-local) issues as expressed in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Service-learning is defined and proffered to transform the undergraduate psychology curriculum by engaging the department faculty to align course outcomes and scaffold community-engaged activities from the introductory to capstone courses. This transformation is illustrated with a major contemporary challenge: climate change.

Toward linguistic justice and inclusion for multilingual learners: Implications of selective translanguaging in English-medium instruction classrooms

Background and aimsEnglish-medium instruction (EMI) mainly mandates teaching all subjects in English only, but evidence shows teachers and students use local languages alongside English, commonly known as translanguaging. This has been proposed as a transformative pedagogy, especially for ethnic/Indigenous children, but research on its impact on the lived experiences of ethnic minority students in EMI multilingual classrooms is lacking. This paper fills the gap by studying the discursive use of translanguaging in EMI classrooms in a multilingual school in Nepal. MethodsDrawing on an ethnographic study in an EMI school located in a multilingual ethnic minority community where mother tongues (i.e., Bhojpuri) other than Nepali were spoken, this paper reports on interviews, focus group discussions, and classroom observations in Grades 6 and 9 over 4 months. ResultsData analysis reveals that both teachers and students recognized a need to negotiate the English-only policy to accommodate their limited English proficiency and used Nepali but not their mother tongues as a supplementary language. While English-Nepali translanguaging seemed to facilitate a better delivery and understanding of content knowledge, this selective, excluding practice did not guarantee equity and equality due to excluding students’ mother tongues (i.e., Bhojpuri) in content classes and school language policy. ConclusionsOur findings highlight how such “selective translanguaging” practices and their related ideologies stigmatize mother tongues, causing linguistic injustice for ethnic minority students. The study proposes “inclusive translanguaging,” countering unequal language ideologies and embracing historically marginalized languages, cultures, and identities.

Translanguaging as Transformative Pedagogy of Shakespeare in South African Secondary Schools

Despite the historical tendency to use the teaching of Shakespeare to perpetuate British colonial educational objectives, the study of a Shakespeare play remains a prerequisite for obtaining a school-leaving certificate, with English Home Language as a subject, from each of the three largest examination bodies in South Africa. Against this background, I propose the implementation of translanguaging as a transformative pedagogy of Shakespeare in South African secondary schools. This proposal is based on the results of practitioner-based research I conducted with a class of Johannesburg-based, multilingual, Grade 10 learners during the study of Macbeth. My research showed that translanguaging facilitated learners’ comprehension of Macbeth, while simultaneously empowering them to interpret the play from their own linguistic and cultural perspectives. Although the study was limited in participant numbers and duration and needs verification by further research, its results suggest the potential of translanguaging to transform the pedagogy of Shakespeare in South African schools by equipping learners to contribute to global discourses on Shakespeare with authentic and uniquely (South) African interpretations of Shakespeare’s plays.

Transformative pedagogy and visual Literacy: reframing art and design student perspectives on sustainability with illustrated infographics

This study explores the integration of key Transformative Learning Theory (TLT) principles into design education to foster Visual Literacy (VL) and promote awareness of environmental issues among undergraduate students. Through thematic analysis of 22 illustrated infographics, ideation sketches and supporting textual data created by art and design students, the study examines patterns and insights related to perspective transformation, critical reflection, and visual writing skills. Findings reveal pedagogical efficacy when prompting students to explore counter-narratives to the prevailing negative zeitgeist, resulting in perspective transformation and critical reflection of the design process. In turn, this perspective shift and critical reflection fostered the development of students’ abilities to convey complex ideas visually, thus broadening their visual vocabulary to advocate for positive change. Three main categories were considered: Critical Reflection, Perspective Transformation, and Visual Writing Skills, and six sub-categories were identified: Implicit Reflection, Paradigm Shift, Alternative Narratives, Rhetorical Concepts, Intentional Visual-Verbal Communication, and Emotional Visual Language. Implications for scholars include insights into curriculum development and the promotion of ethical and sustainable design practices, while pragmatic applications for faculty offer actionable recommendations for enhancing teaching practices. The study underscores the importance of ethical considerations, diverse perspectives, and real-world applications in nurturing students’ growth as innovative, ethical and sustainable designers.

A model to support the development of professional capital in trainee teachers: a constructivist grounded theory

PurposeThis paper shares findings from a constructivist grounded theory study, exploring Trainee Teachers’ perceptions of their teaching and learning experienced during university-based teacher education programmes, specifically the theoretical components. Findings led to the development of a model of program design, pedagogy and teaching strategies that were successful in creating opportunities to build Professional Capital. This paper aims to share this model, highlighting the significance of Professional Capital amidst challenges in English Teacher Education, and to suggest implications for application of the model within broader workforce development.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 trainee teachers from four English universities. To support the development of the theoretical framework, researchers employed inductive and iterative constant comparative methods aligned with constructivist grounded theory to sensitise concepts and codes, which were verified using theoretical sampling.FindingsInformed by the findings of this study, a model is presented which highlights that participants developed human, social and decisional capital during their academic programs helping them to widen their perceptions of what counts as educationally important, beyond narrow performativity measures that are pervasive in a school system. By actively adopting a transformative pedagogy and employing constructivist approaches to curriculum design and delivery, optimal learning environments for learners to build their professional capital can be provided.Practical implicationsThese findings may prove valuable to Higher Education academics as a model when designing and delivering professional, student-centred programmes. There are also implications for policymakers seeking to redesign initial teacher education towards schools-led and practice-oriented approaches, who wish to consider the perceptions, values and motivations of trainee teachers.Originality/valueThe findings highlight the significance of teacher trainees’ active engagement with academic literature and theory, in terms of contributing to the development of their professional capital, resilience and professional commitment.

The educator’s role in democratic and multicultural societies: student perceptions at a teacher training college in Israel

PurposeEducators are recognized as key agents of social change, responsible for shaping future citizens. Beyond imparting knowledge, teachers are crucial in addressing societal challenges such as sustainability, democracy and social equality. This study aims to investigate the attitudes of Jewish and Arab students toward democratic values and how they perceive their role as educators in a multicultural society.Design/methodology/approachThis study explores the attitudes of majority and minority group students in an Israeli teacher training college towards realizing democratic values and promoting shared citizenship. The sample included 382 Jewish and Arab students, who answered a questionnaire about attitudes regarding education for democracy and shared society, and their perception of their role in promoting this education.FindingsThe investigation delves into students’ civic perceptions, shedding light on the moderate and pluralistic stances held by both Jewish and Arab students. They advocate for cross-cultural exposure and interaction, with Jewish students demonstrating slightly more moderate views than the prevailing norms in Israeli society. Interestingly, Jewish students exhibited a willingness to engage in discussions on conflictual topics, whereas Arab students tended to avoid them.Social implicationsThis study underscores the potential of teacher training colleges in shaping the upcoming generation of educators as advocates of tolerance, and democracy, and promoters of a shared society.Originality/valueThis research gains heightened relevance in a contemporary landscape where numerous nations, especially those comprising diverse cultures, grapple with surges of nationalism that threaten democratic values. Teacher training colleges hold the key to forging a more harmonious future by becoming beacons of transformative pedagogy. These institutions can shape a new generation of educators who are poised to catalyze authentic social change.