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Theoretical Comparisons
Part 1: Comparing Critical Pedagogy with Constructivism and Behaviorism:
As I was reading through Wink’s book of critical pedagogy, there were multiple times
when I was reminded of Piaget’s theory of constructivism. Critical pedagogy focuses on the
interaction of teaching and learning. It requires teachers to focus on what needs to be
accomplished, critically reflect on what should be done and how it should be done, and
implement those actions. It is vital that teachers take into account not only what to teach and
how to teach it, but that they also take into account the learners. How will the learners receive
this information? How will they think, reflect and act towards this information? The three
models of pedagogy outlined in our text describe teachers that teach at children, teachers that
teach somewhat with children and teachers that allow students to construct their own meanings
of concepts through exploration and experience with the community.
In Piaget’s theory of constructivism, teachers are urged to abandon the transmission and
generative models, and allow children to construct their own meaning through experience. In
true transformative classrooms and in true constructivist classrooms, teachers are able to let go of
control and become partners with their students embarking on the learning process. The
attention is centered on the child, not the teacher. The teacher simply acts as a facilitator to
monitor progress and guide students in the right direction.
Effective critical pedagogy is not teaching at students. It is not transmissive. It is not
skill and drill. It is not behavioristic. The behaviorist theory focuses on being teacher directed.
This is completely opposite of what effective critical pedagogues implement. Behaviorists stress
the importance of repeated behavioral patterns until they are “memorized.” Critical pedagogues
stress the importance of preparing students for the real world through their own experiences
which are developed when students think critically.
Piaget’s theory of constructivism is very comparable to effective critical pedagogy. I
view behaviorism to be the opposite of critical pedagogy. Critical pedagogy is requiring students
to be successful citizens.
Part 2: Comparing Critical Pedagogy with Anti-Biased Curriculum and Multicultural
Education
After reflecting on my readings and reading more on anti-bias curriculum, I see so
many similarities in critical pedagogy, anti-bias curriculum and multicultural education. The
anti-bias curriculum was developed in an effort to go beyond multicultural education (Global
Kids Oz, 2011). As I began listing similarities and differences, I found more similarities than
anything. All three ideas revolve around promoting social justice. They promote self-awareness
and critical self-reflections. The learning is student-centered and engaging. They require
teachers to begin with “naming” or recognizing a need. They continue with critical reflection
and an action plan. All three of these ideas thrive off of parental and community involvement
(Lin, Lake & Rice, 2008). They promote democracies and help develop positively active
citizens.
Anti-bias curriculums take multicultural curriculums one-step further by promoting
knowledge of all differences. I think of hidden curriculum being more prevalent in anti-bias
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Theoretical Comparisons
curriculum and critical pedagogy, however, I’m sure it would exist in a multiculturally educated
classroom. I associate anti-bias curriculum with practice and theory, or as referred to by Wink,
Praxis. All three ideas overlap and are very closely related. They all promote social justice and
give students the tools they need to act on injustices.
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Theoretical Comparisons
References
Global Kids Oz. (2011, January 27). [Web log message]. Retrieved from
http://multiculturalisminschools.wordpress.com/2011/01/27/anti-bias-curriculum-in-amulticultural-society/
Lin, M., Lake, V. & Rice, D. (2008). Teaching anti-bias curriculum in teacher education
programs:what and how. Teacher Education Quarterly, 35(2), 187-200.