Beliefs – Perspective from John Loughran
Delwynne’s situation, in which she begins to see the difference between her intentions and her actions, is a wonderful example of the sense of dissonance that is so important as a trigger for genuine inquiry into one’s own practice. It is a perfect illustration of what Whitehead (1993) describes as a “living contradiction” and of what is at the heart of the impetus for self-study – the need to align our teaching practices and our beliefs (Hamilton et al., 1998).
Delwynne demonstrates an important attitude that is central to looking into practice in meaningful ways – that of open-mindedness (Dewey, 1933). She not only recognised the problem – that she was not working with teachers in the ways that she was advocating they needed to work with their students – but she was also keen to do something about it.
Open-mindedness is critical in terms of pedagogical development and issues associated with change because, in many instances, it is difficult to see problems in our own practice and much easier to see them in others’ ways of working. Because we are so closely connected to the situation, we tend to rationalise or justify issues in our practice and seek solutions for other aspects of the situation rather than look at ourselves. Delwynne recognises that she may have done this in the past, and this helps her to avoid this pitfall now. She both acknowledges the problem and chooses to do something about it, by addressing issues in her current approach. This is a big step and one that offers powerful insights into the personal learning about pedagogy that is at the heart of professional learning.
References
Dewey, J. (1933). How We Think. Lexington, Massachusetts: D. C. Heath.
Hamilton, M. L., with Pinnegar, S., Russell, T., Loughran, J., and LaBoskey, V., eds. (1998). Reconceptualizing Teaching Practice: Self-study in Teacher Education. London: Falmer Press.
Whitehead, J. (1993). The Growth of Educational Knowledge: Creating Your Own Living Educational Theories. Bournemouth: Hyde Publications.
