Entry: Max Van Manen (Pedagogical Sensitivity)

   The first quote from the article that stood out to me was, "A compliment should be meaningful and should not be granted indiscriminately because, if given too  readily and too freely it may lose its significance."  I found this quote raised an interesting question of how to properly raise a child's confidence and fits into what I perceive to be conventional wisdom. In regards to a pedagogical perspective, however, it would be challenging to develop the ability to incorporate this advice. Each student would react differently to compliments, and more importantly, each compliment would bear a varying significance to the student.

   The next quote which caught my attention was, "Teacher educators have generally become quite aware that the tried 'knowledge into practice' model of teacher training in universities falls short of effective professional preparation." As an aspiring teacher, I found it quite interesting how there seems to be a strong opinion that teacher training is inadequate in preparing future teachers. This seems quite contrary to what conventional wisdom would tell us. I am curious to find out how the pedagogical approach with which one takes in the classroom differs from the one taught in university and how it fits into the broader field of education.

   Finally, I was fascinated by the final quote of, "We might even say that the practical knowledge of teaching resides in the things that surround us: the physical dimensions of the classroom that I recognize as my room to which my body is adapted." I feel that it is quite unconventional that teachers could consider themselves simply a part of the classroom, rather than the classroom to be a tool to be used at the teachers' discretion. I feel that this is quite significant and not simply semantics, and would drastically alter the methods that a teacher would find themselves using in class.

   To develop these skills as a teacher, it is necessary to have several requirements: (a) to have experience in the role as educator, (b) to read and discuss with other educators, and (c) to reflect upon one's own teaching in relation to (a) and (b). These practices have a great impact upon students, as they directly affect the methods and tools through which to acquire knowledge and modify their learning environment. By reflecting and adjusting their methods, in conjunction with the shift in students' attitudes and behaviour, the teachers will also have a completely new experience.