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Teaching

Currere Cymru: How can autobiographical curriculum theorising enhance teachers’ curriculum work in Wales?

Posted on 27 February 2024 by Dr Kevin Smith

The Future of Educational Research in Wales During my tenure as a Council Member (2015-2020) for the British Educational Research Association (BERA), I worked closely with Professor Gary Beauchamp, a […]

Pedagogy and Thinking Philosophically

Posted on 17 October 2022 by Dr Kevin Smith

In late 2020, Dylan Adams and Gary Beauchamp, two colleagues and friends from Cardiff Metropolitan University, invited me to co-author a book with them that introduces undergraduate students studying education […]

A pedagogical reflection on the coddling of white ignorance

Posted on 4 February 2021 by Dr Kevin Smith

This is another 'guest post' from Dr Kevin Talbert, an Associate Professor in Education at The College of Idaho in Caldwell, ID, USA. In this post, Kevin writes about his […]

Teacher Demoralization

Posted on 23 September 2019 by Dr Kevin Smith

As teachers are placed under greater levels of scrutiny and "accountability," there are less and less opportunities to discuss the values, beliefs and philosophical considerations of teaching that serve as the foundation for their practice and sense of purpose in their work.

Does Philosophy have a role in the New Curriculum for Wales?

Posted on 19 August 2019 by Dr Kevin Smith

Should young people study philosophy, or use philosophical practices as part of their schooling experience? This post discusses research with teachers in Wales about their perceptions of philosophy and its potential use in school curricula.

Priorities, purpose and efficacy: How identifying aims/purposes in education can make us better teachers.

Priorities, purpose and efficacy: How identifying aims/purposes in education can make us better teachers.

Posted on 5 August 2019 by Dr Kevin Smith

Efficacy is the belief in our ability to achieve the results we hope to achieve. The outcomes of our efficacy are normative based beliefs that our behaviour will lead to a desirable outcome, and efficacy expectations are our own belief that we can perform those behaviours. Understanding our values, beliefs and specific conceptualisations of our outcome and efficacy expectations can lead to a richer learning experience for pupils and a greater sense of satisfaction among teachers.

Aphorisms & Axioms: Finding Purpose in Teaching.

Aphorisms & Axioms: Finding Purpose in Teaching.

Posted on 8 July 2019 by Dr Kevin Smith

What do we mean when we say we want to help young people "achieve their full potential?" Often it seems this phrase is used when we as educators can't articulate our purposes, aims and priorities. To empower our pedagogy, perhaps we should focus less on achieving "potential" and more on specific, achievable aims for us and our learners.