Developing a Pedagogy for Interactive Learning.

Recent developments in higher education have seen the demise of much didactic, teacher-directed instruction which was aimed mainly towards lower-level educational objectives. This traditional educational approach has been largely replaced by methods which feature the teacher as an originator or facilitator of interactive and learner-centred learning - with higher-level aims in mind. The origins of, and need for, these changes are outlined, leading into an account of the emerging pedagogical approach to interactive learning, featuring facilitation and reflection. Some of the main challenges yet to be confronted effectively in consolidating a sound and comprehensive pedagogical approach to interactive development of higher level educational aims are outlined.

Feedback Unbound: from master to usher.

A major theme of this book is that feedback should encourage dialogue; between students and lecturers, amongst peers and individually, as a form of self-critique and reflection. Here we endorse that theme but also propose an understanding of dialogue that goes beyond simple exchang or the presence of two or more voices. Inspired by Freire’s (1996) critical pedagogy we seek to make a link between the social nature of learning, the social nature of dialogue and the role of feedback as dialogue in a broader transformative learning process, and not merely as an adjunct to assessment.