I intend to do an action research on how I can improve educating teachers by means of training them in reflective skills through Socratic Dialogue. In order to be able to meet demands posed to student teachers by the recently introduced changes in higher professional education in the Netherlands and also the didactics of new learning introduced at junior vocational education, they need to develop into Self-Directed Learners. We should help them equip themselves with more than just the necessary reflective skills. We should induce and facilitate the birth of genuine need to reflect. They should leave this education able to make justified choices for learning in their professional careers. And they should leave with a genuine curiosity and interest in other ways of thinking than their own. Having realized the importance and value of an open dialogue they will become self-conscious thinkers and practitioners who know how to learn to look and wonder about what they see. In the present situation, the students are asked to reflect on all sorts of items and situations connected with their study career and their school practice. Various models are offered to them (Korthagen, Hendriksen) in the hope that by reflecting, they will learn how to reflect. And they certainly do, to a certain extent. But what this extent is and how long it will be perpetrated after they leave the school is less certain. But the genuine need to reflect remains untouched upon. This can be done by means of training in Socratic Dialogue and training in facilitating one.
DOCUMENT
This study reports the evaluation of a lesson series, developed in collaboration with teachers and experts, to generate a research-based solution for teaching critical thinking through Socratic dialogue in secondary vocational education. The lesson series has been evaluated for feasibility and tailoring to different target groups of students by five citizenship education teachers and 85 students. Data consisted of self-report questionnaires by teachers and students, complemented with observations of lessons. Results show that lessons based on Socratic dialogue for teaching critical thinking to students in secondary vocational education are considered a promising educational intervention. Teachers considered the lessons as feasible and well-tailored to their students and were able to implement the lessons in their classrooms. Students were motivated to participate, and their motivation did not decrease significantly during the lesson series. At the same time, students tended to be more motivated when the value of learning to think critically for their future profession was clearly substantiated. Practical implications from the evaluation of the lesson series were that, in addition to participating in Socratic dialogue, students need clear learning objectives and short assignments to remain active.
DOCUMENT
Within paediatric palliative care, it is essential for families and providers to have open, equal, and trusting relationships. In practice, however, building relationships can be challenging. Investing in better understanding the differences in each other's frames of reference and underlying values seems important. Wonder Lab practices provide a space to explore these differences by focusing together on life phenomena in curious and Socratic ways. Wonder Labs were organised with parents, healthcare professionals, and students involved in Dutch paediatric palliative care. The aim of this study was to develop an understanding of how participants experienced participating in Wonder Labs. We conducted twenty in-depth interviews with Wonder Lab participants and used inductive thematic analysis for data interpretation. Five themes were identified: Slowing down, Appreciating stories, Becoming vulnerable, Opening up and diving in, and Reframing perspectives. Participating in Wonder Labs allowed mothers, healthcare professionals, and students to contribute to deepening experiences and gain an expanded understanding of what is at play in caring for children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. Through working in pluralised groups, frames of reference and understandings complemented each other and could change. Participants often adopted a more open attitude towards others involved in care after participating and adapted day-to-day practices. Deliberating within paediatric palliative care on sensitive issues and their underlying personal and professional beliefs and values must be part of working together, without specific care situations being the catalyst. This may foster the mutual understanding needed in searching for quality of life, death, and bereavement.
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