Action Pedagogy: Successful Pedagogy for African-Caribbean Male Students in a U.K. Secondary School

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Immigrant and Indigenous Students in European Contexts

Abstract

This paper reports on an action research study that sought to listen to the voices of students themselves in order to understand pedagogical approaches that could engender educational success for Black male students. The research group of students supported pedagogical approaches that challenge the hegemony of the 'behavioural objectives' approach, which emphasises accommodation of students and teachers with standards, established outside of their classrooms. Their ideas were combined with a philosophical typology from Hannah Arendt to suggest a model of two types of pedagogy: labour and action. The latter is suggested as most helpful to Black male students, with its emphasis on agency for students and teachers, and the importance of student-teacher relationships.

Author

• Robin Whitburn, Institute of Education - London