Monday, October 6, 2014

The Art of Reciprocal Learning

Pedagogy, or the art of education, has come a long way over the centuries, and particularly so in the past several decades. No longer is it the accepted norm that teachers stand at the front of the classroom, with their castigating instrument-of-choice in hand, and didactically instilling in the students what they “must” learn. Out of an era where classrooms were a dreary and disciplined environment, there has blossomed new and progressive education theories that focus on empowering the individual learner.

One such example is reciprocal learning, whereby the person in the role of “educator” acknowledges that they too can learn from the student, rather than it being a “one-way street.” Indeed, we never stop learning and that’s one of the beauties of being alive. Reciprocal learning ensures the student’s contribution is valued so that they feel like they are participating in their education rather than being a docile knowledge receptacle.

As far away as New Zealand, new pedagogical theories highlighting the value of reciprocal learning have taken root. In fact, the New Zealand education system has keenly embraced the wisdom of indigenous, in this case Maori, education theories with the concept of “ako.”

Ako means to both “teach” and “learn.” At its core, ako recognizes that both the educator and the learner have valuable knowledge that they can contribute, allowing for a more inclusive learning process.

Ako also acknowledges that whanau (the Maori word for “family”) cannot be excluded from the equation. After all, a child’s background greatly informs what they learn and indeed the way in which they learn.

At Big Apple Tutoring, one of the best academic tutoring services Manhattan has to offer, they too understand that a student’s family is an important part of their learning process. That’s why their “private tutor Manhattan” service brings together the student and the family to develop the most comprehensive strategy to target the student’s individual needs and excel with their one on one tutor Manhattan services.

Indeed, private tutoring is a two-way street where the private tutor is constantly researching the most effective and cutting-edge ways to educate their student, and through interacting with the student, the one on one tutor  learns how best to proceed in an inclusive learning environment where reciprocal learning is at the forefront.

Big Apple Tutoring’s world class private academic tutoring services include:




One on one tutor Manhattan

No comments:

Post a Comment