Learning to Listen, Learning to Teach is Jane Vella's vehicle to demonstrate through application her belief that adults learn best when engaged in dialogue. She is not the first to pioneer this approach; but her book does clearly explain her thoughts and methods of applying twelve principles and practices of dialogue-based learning. Vella’s book does not read like a textbook. Her personal multicultural work from all over the world serves as the backdrop to demonstrate the application of her twelve principles through a myriad of situations and settings. The reader is not only taken on a journey of near and faraway places; but also called to engage and analyze the principles along the way.
Vella is also a strong believer that strong design through her ‘seven steps of planning’ (Who, Why, When, Where, What, What For, and How) will enable the ‘teacher’ to determine:
- the needs and experience of the participants
- the learning objectives
- the topics and activities to meet the objectives
- the materials needed for a successful learning experience
This book demonstrates the power and value of dialogue over monologue and active over passive learning when it comes to educating adults. Vella is able to craft a strong case that supports a framework of strong design, coupled with principles for dialogue-based learning equals extraordinary outcomes for all.
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeleteIt is easy to see how Joye Norris builds on Dr. Vella's work, even as she includes the seven steps of planning in her curriculum design strategies. It seems intuitive that you would address all of these questions as you design curriculum, however, the flow-charts and templates Dr. Norris inculded make it easier to apply the concepts. Did Dr. Vella include templates in her book too?
Hi Annie -
ReplyDeleteNo she didn't in that sense - but the Global Learning Partners web site I shared in an earlier post ['book choice' label] has some great resources I plan on sharing over the next few weeks. Vella is more the discussion of why and case studies illustrating. My next jump off will be Norris' book.
Thanks.
I find it very interesting that the 5 w's are included in your summary. It seems to me that this is a very elementary, yet thorough, way to determine the teaching elements and address every concern which the process of design could potentially have. What a thorough description of the book!
ReplyDeleteJoshua - Thank you. It is amazing how so 'elementary' those 5 w's can be - they are oftentimes overlooked. We've all experienced those learning situations.
ReplyDelete