Trends and Disruptions in Teaching Perspectives

In his book Five Perspectives on Teaching, Dan Pratt describes perspectives as ‘something we look through, rather than at as we go about the business of teaching. He eschews the idea of simplistic ‘best practices,’ and invites a ‘plurality of the good’ in teaching - recognizing our perspectives and thoughtful about how they shape our teaching formats.

Do these perspectives change over time? Are the influences on them internal or external? What is the effect of a massive disruption such as the COVID-19 pandemic?

Dan gave us a precis of the five perspectives and the Teaching Perspectives Inventory - a freely available instrument for educators to help identify their dominant and back up perspectives. In reviewing data from Harvard Macy Institute Scholars, Amanda offered some insights into trends observed over time, and some dramatic shifts during the pandemic. After some initial shifts towards a transmission perspective, developmental and nurturing perspectives are on the rise again. Food for thought! We reflected on the role of technology and culture in shaping teachers’ perspectives and practice.

Victoria Brazil, MD (Educators, ’05, Leaders ’07, Assessment ‘10) is Professor of Emergency Medicine and Director of Simulation at Bond University Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine. Her research interests include podcasting and simulation, and she is co-producer of Simulcast - a podcast about health care simulation. Victoria can be followed on Twitter.