Re: Best practices
vera p john-steiner (vygotsky who-is-at unm.edu)
Mon, 29 Dec 1997 09:55:20 -0700 (MST)
Dear fellow puzzlers,
We are, I believe both theorists and educators--and it is the latter in a
way that limits us to enact our own traditions. (We teach by responding
to many pressures of the moment, leaning on what and how we have been
taught, like first time parents.) It is also as teachers that we get
challenged by students who are different from us. How different, I
only learned in the Southwest. At times, I find, our theories sneak in, unattended
into our practice, it was my students who told me how some of my practices
(like peer exams) were Vygotskian in nature.
I like Gordon's tri-part system, it has a certain clarity that I crave.
In some ways it is less Western than previous, non-dialogic, approaches.
Concepts are open containers, and at times, like my open frozen garbage
bins, right now full of ice,set upside down, slowly draining, they will be
turned, manipulated, refilled, as the weather, actual and theoretical,
changes.
It will be interesting to hear how some of the ideas about culture
challenge our cultural-historical notions at the AERA session peter
organized.
In the meantime best New year wishes to all of you,
Vera
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Vera P. John-Steiner
Department of Linguistics
Humanities Bldg. 526
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
(505) 277-6353 or 277-4324
Internet: vygotsky who-is-at unm.edu
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