Kumaravadivelu's ideas

Role of the Teacher

Teachers as Passive
Technicians

To function as a conduit which its primary goal is to promote student' comprehension of content knowledge

Teachers as Reflective Practitioners

To function as a facilitator maximizing learning potential through problem-solving activities

Teachers as Transformative
Intellectuals

To function as a change agent maximizing sociopolitical awareness through problem-solving activities

Theory & Practice

Theory

Seen to constitute a set of insights and concepts derived from academic disciplines

Professional Theory

Created and perpetuated within the professional culture. Generally transmitted via teacher/professional training in colleges, polytechnics and universities

Personal Theory

An individual theory unique to each person which is individually developed through the experience of putting professional theories to the test in the practical situation

Practice

Seen to constitute a set of teaching and learning strategies

Teacher's Theory of Practice

Based on speculative theory, the finding of empirical research and the experimental knowledge of practicing teachers

Methods

Primary vehicle for the developement of basic knowledge and skill in the prospective teacher

Language-Centered

Concerned with linguistic forms and called grammatical structures.For lerners to practice preselected, presequenced linguistic structures through form-focused exercises

Learner-Centered

Concerned with language use and learner needs. To practice preselected, presequenced grammatical structures as well as communicative functions through meaning-focused activities

Learning-Centered

Concerned with learning processes. To provide participation in open-ended meaningful interaction through communicative activities or problem-solving tasks

Postmethod Pedagogy

To go beyond and overcome the limitations of method-based pedagogy

The Parameter
of Particularity

Seeks to facilitate the advancement of a context-sensitive, location-specific pedagogy based on a true understanding of local linguistic, sociocultural and political particularities

The Parameter
of Practicality

Seeks to rupture the reified role relationship by enabling and encouraging teachers to the theorize from their practice and to practice what they theorize

The Parameter
of Possibility

Seeks to tap the sociopolitical consciousness that participants bring with them to the classroom so that it can also function as a catalyst for a continual quest for identity formation and social transformation

Framework

Seeks to provide a possible mechanism for classroom teachers to begin to theorize from their practice and practice what they theorize