To echo Gary–the Leonardo DiCaprio meme is an amazing summary of your group’s excellent post. One other major strength of your group’s post is that you gave a group definition of critical pedagogy, but you also had each group member give their own definition. This both demonstrates what critical pedagogy is according to your group definition while providing an extended definition (by giving each group member’s definition–their unique connotations–you are engaging in critical pedagogy). I think this is great because it gives you insight about each member of your group, just like you would want to know how each student is understanding important concepts/definitions in your classes. My question then would be “Does your group have any ideas on how to have students agree on a definition/particular understanding of a concept that may have ambiguous meaning (like contemporary pedagogy?) that still values their unique connotations?”

First, I just wanted to say I love the word cloud shaped like a graduation cap for your group’s conceptualization of critical pedagogy–having the words form that shape really drives home what those words mean for higher education and those who have access to it, versus those who do not. It also aligns perfectly with your definitions and examples of how to apply critical pedagogy to your disciplines. It’s random, but I am curious if you chose the Karate Kid song quote intentionally as your group motto to express empowerment of students by great teachers?

I love your group’s post! In this group’s post (https://timothystelter.wordpress.com/2019/04/12/a-collaborative-definition-of-critical-pedagogy-through-jig-saw-pedagogy/) they mention how part of critical pedagogy is teachers and students embracing “the joy and power of thinking together.” Basically, learning should be fun, even as it empowers systemic change. Your post really embraces the fun aspect of learning, as you chose not just to write, which comes easy as academics, but to challenge yourself to find effective memes and gifs to display your points. I think your memes and gifs match the definition you provided for critical pedagogy, but I was curious if your group considered any other potential definitions/aspects of critical pedagogy?

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Gary, thanks for the comment! I cannot answer for my group mates, but I know for the class I currently teach (Psychological Measurement), I have already been trying to incorporate some of these ideas. Throughout the semester my students developed a new scale on personality based integrity and now are in the process of validating it. Part of the validation phase involves checking for differential prediction (which is related to things like test bias), and I have them focus on why this step is necessary (to make sure the scale is not discriminatory, yes, but also why that’s so crucial to check for as researchers who have the power to ask questions). I am hoping to teach more research/measurement classes in the future, and I plan to make the final project have to be CBPAR (as described in my section of the post).

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The way you guys connected these ideas directly to your disciplines is really impressive to read. Super thoughtful in a way that makes it applicable. I’m curious to know how this thought process has started making you think about changes you would make to a current class and/or the approach you will take when you start teaching?

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Very interesting approach to your post. The sequence of memes worked to communicate some important ideas. I particularly liked the one where the student wanted to learn practical information and the teacher wanted to teach recorder. It’s a good reminder that engaging students in the process often requires giving students a level of control over what they’re learning. As your previous meme showed, it can’t just be teachers pouring knowledge into students.

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Wonderful post. Very thoughtful and insightful. It forms a great base for the next discussion, which I think is going to be how to use specific teaching methodologies to make this a reality. I also really enjoyed your Leonardo DiCaprio meme. I’m going to steal that and save it to use later. It captures the idea well!