Literacy Teaching and Learning MOOC’s Updates
Section 4: Didactic Literacy Pedagogy
Didactic literacy pedagogy was the founding approach to reading and writing from the introduction of mass, compulsory, institutionalised education in the nineteenth century. It is still an approach that is widely advocated publicly and applied in schools today. A didactic approach to literacy requires learning the rules of the ways in which sounds and letters correspond. It involves learning the formal rules of what is presented as the one, correct way to write. It is about comprehension of what authors are really supposed to mean. It is about learning to respect the high cultural texts of the literary canon. Its syllabi tell you what is to be learned. Its textbooks follow the syllabi. Teachers are expected to follow the textbooks. And, if they are to score well, students have to give the right answers when it comes to the test.
For historical examples of didactic pedagogy, see Section 4 at literacies.com. Consider also the educational apps that nowadays use didactic pedagogy—when are they valuable? When are they problematic?
Comment: What are limitations and strengths of didactic pedagogy?
Make an Update: Find an example of didactic pedagogy—either an historical example or a contemporary example such as a learning app. Briefly describe your selected example, then analyze its pedagogical strengths and limitations.
From the time of British colonization and the spread of the English language in different countries, the didactic teaching pedagogy of the English language has been successful, especially among non-native English speakers. Before the internet and computers, it was through the English language textbooks and lecture style that non-native English speakers learned a foreign language, such as English as all the rules for grammar and sentence formation. These were the benefits of didactic teaching for learners of EFL and ESL. In that period, even the native speakers learnt the English language ithe same way.
Textbooks and learning apps in modern times are good tools for learning and practising English language. However, over time, our understanding of the importance of the constructivist approach to learning is increasing. The didactic method of teaching and learning the English language raises questions about learner agency, learners’ learning styles, pace and differentiated instruction that provides equitable opportunities for all learners. Hence we need to look at other literacy pedagogy or a hybrid that combines didactic pedagogy with the constructivist approach for a more wholesome learning of the English language.
Guaqueta, Cesar A., and Angela Yicely Castro-Garces. The use of language learning apps as a didactic tool for EFL vocabulary building. English Language Teaching 11.2 (2018): 61-71.
Salvatierra, Teresa Mercedes Gracia, and Haydée Ramírez Lozada. Didactic Strategies to Improve the Reading Comprehension Skill in the English Language Teaching-Learning Process. (2023).
Exploring Authentic Literacy Teaching: Whole Language and Process Writing Methods vs. Didactic Pedagogy
In today's modern world, where social media gets a lot of attention and plays a significant role in our daily lives, a really good example of authentic literacy pedagogy is online discussions or blogging inside a community with likeminded people, for instance, a group for social studies major students. This, I believe, helps students learn better by letting them talk and share ideas online but of course with teachers' guidance. These online chats, students get to express themselves about different things like stories, news, or what's happening in the world. This is an authentic literacy pedagogy because it helps students become more confident in speaking their minds while also listening to others ideas where they would understand different viewpoints. This enhances critical thinking because they have to explain why they believe something. These online discussions are not just interesting but also show how language is used in real life. So, by having these discussions online, students not only learn about language but also get better at using it in the real world while being updated with current happenings
While online discussions and blogging platforms offer numerous benefits in fostering literacy skills and real-world application, they also pose challenges related to supervision, technology access, effective communication, and time management. Teachers might find it hard to check if what's being said is true or if it's going off-topic. Also, not everyone has the same access to the internet or computers, so some people might not be able to join in. When we write online, it's tough to understand how someone feels because we can't see their face or hear their voice. To make this way of learning good, we need to find a balance and manage these problems while using the good things about it.
Mentioned above are its strengths and weaknesses. In this essence, here’s the comparison of online discussions or blogging as a literacy pedagogy from didactic literacy pedagogy. Blogging encourages interactive, real-world, and student-centered learning through communication and collaboration whilst didactic literacy pedagogy tends to be more structured, teacher-centered, and focused on imparting specific language rules and knowledge.
http://newlearningonline.com/literacies/chapter-4/the-content-focus-of-didactic-literacy-teaching
I agree that social media and blogs are useful tools in modern times to learn and practice our literacy skills. The social ecology of interactiveness and discussions is missing in the didactic ecology.
Truly, didactic literacy pedagogy represents our historic learning reality which has accomplished its goals in human society. The institutions and the agencies played their socially accepted roles regardless of the increasing social changes.
Didactic pedagogy, characterized by its traditional lecture-style format, offers distinct strengths and limitations in the realm of education. On one hand, it excels in efficiently delivering a substantial amount of content within a structured framework. This approach is particularly effective for introducing foundational concepts or covering a broad range of material in a relatively short period. The clear structure of didactic instruction aids students in comprehending the logical flow of a topic and its key concepts. Moreover, the guidance of expert instructors provides valuable context, explanations, and examples that may be challenging for students to attain independently. However, didactic pedagogy leans towards passive learning, where students are primarily recipients of information, potentially leading to reduced engagement, lower retention, and limited critical thinking development. Interaction is limited, as opportunities for meaningful discussions or questions may be constrained. This one-size-fits-all approach may not cater to diverse learning styles and paces, potentially creating gaps in comprehension. Additionally, there's a risk of information overload, as a large amount of content may be delivered in a relatively short span, potentially overwhelming some learners. Balancing didactic instruction with interactive and experiential learning methods can enhance the educational experience, allowing for a more comprehensive and effective approach to learning.
I agree that didactic teaching limits the scope of differentiated instruction which is essential in contemporary times.
One example of didactic pedagogy is the traditional classroom lecture format, where a teacher imparts information to students through verbal communication. This method efficiently conveys a substantial amount of content in a structured manner, allowing students to follow the logical flow of a topic. The expertise and guidance of the instructor can provide valuable context and insights. However, it tends to foster passive learning, as students are primarily recipients of information with limited opportunity for interaction or discussion. This approach may not cater well to diverse learning styles and paces, potentially leaving some students struggling to keep up or others feeling unchallenged. A contemporary example of didactic pedagogy can be seen in educational YouTube channels, which deliver content through engaging videos. These channels leverage multimedia elements to enhance understanding and accessibility, catering to a wide audience with self-paced learning options. However, they share the limitation of limited interaction and the need for critical evaluation of content quality and accuracy. Both examples demonstrate the strengths and limitations of didactic pedagogy, highlighting the importance of balancing it with more interactive and experiential learning methods for a comprehensive educational experience.
The essay emphasizes the value of didactic pedagogy and tools for young children's online learning. It emphasizes how instruction from teachers and student involvement may improve learning and performance. An online learning tool called Kahoot employs game-based learning to assess knowledge, develop skills, and offer a lighthearted respite. A game-based learning platform called Kahoot! makes it simple to quickly develop, share, and play learning games or trivia quizzes. Fun should be let loose in living rooms, offices, and classrooms. It is a learning platform with games. Creators generate the questions, which are then displayed on the screen for the students to respond to using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. Through this tool, teachers can even design surveys and polls. With an ease zone, kids can play it in real time.
With its distinctive, aesthetically pleasing quizzes, Kahoot is an incredibly useful tool in the online learning environment. Quizzes and polls make it simple for teachers to gauge their pupils' comprehension levels, which cuts down on repetition and boredom. Kahoot is a vibrant platform that can be used as a tool for teachers to assess pupils. It fosters a happy learning atmosphere and improves performance because of improved attendance. Additionally, it lessens the stress and frustration that come with conventional formative exams for pupils. Overall, Kahoot has a lot to offer both teachers and students.
On the other hand, popular educational tool Kahoot has some drawbacks, such as difficult student progress tracking, the need for a robust internet connection for multiple players, the possibility of distraction from background music, greater competitiveness, and problems with device availability. Despite these difficulties, Kahoot continues to be a useful and interactive learning tool for students, making it an important educational resource. However, it has difficulties handling distractions, establishing a strong internet connection, and guaranteeing the availability of necessary equipment.
Either an formal example or a There are too many didactic activities which enrich the content of the lessons between the most common ones, there are: tongue twisters, practices, questionnaires, vocabularies, dictations, reviews, dialogues, plays, speeches, panels, murals, albums, illustrations, homework, songs, puzzles, riddles, rhymes, conferences. Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive. One key example includes: An Inspector Calls- teaching us that we are all equal and we are all responsible for each other. Didactic materials refer to any resource that is designed to aid a student in their learning experience. These tools can help a student improve their knowledge and understanding of the world through manipulation and experience. Lectures from the teacher to the student: Didactic teaching also emphasizes lectures given by the teacher to the student. Often, students learn from lectures by taking notes and asking questions. Group discussions: In the didactic teaching approach, group discussions often follow a lecture or reading. This is a method of teaching whereby the teacher doles out content and expects that students find their way around learning it.
I agree that a hybrid- didactic pedagogy with other forms of constructivist pedagogy- helps create a more enriching ecology for students to learn.
When it comes to Didactic Pedagogy and Tools, I would like to connect the current life situations young children went through with online learning. The manner in which the teacher discusses instruction and the amount of participation and focus of the students during the activities have a significant impact on the learning and achievement of the students.
Having said that, Kahoot is an online learning platform that can be used to test students' knowledge, brush up on their skills, and give them a fun break.
It is simple to us because it is gamebased, and young learners especially find it to be extremely engaging with the current online learning. A promising approach to delivering academic knowledge in the classroom is through technology gamification. This is highly important because more recent educational standards emphasize the necessity for teachers to use technology to help students' learning. Students can easily acquire topic knowledge and skills with the aid of digital game-based learning. Students that take part in these games also become more involved and immersed in the subject matter.
The main disadvantages to using a literature based approach are:children's difficulties acquiring decoding knowledge, and children's difficulties acquiring fluency. The literature-based approach does not teach decoding knowledge as a separate set of skills that are taught in isolationIn education, authentic learning is an instructional approach that allows students to explore, discuss, and meaningfully construct concepts and relationships in contexts that involve real-world problems and projects that are relevant to the learner.[1] It refers to a wide variety of educational and instructional techniques focused on connecting what students are taught in school to real-world issues, problems, and applications. The basic idea is that students are more likely to be interested in what they are learning, more motivated to learn new concepts and skills, and better prepared to succeed in college, careers, and adulthood if what they are learning mirrors real-life contexts, equips them with practical and useful skills, and addresses topics that are relevant and applicable to their lives outside of school
Authentic instruction will take on a much different form than traditional teaching methods. In the traditional classroom, students take a passive role in the learning process. Knowledge is considered to be a collection of facts and procedures that are transmitted from the teacher to the student.
Wikipedia.com
I think that when we talk about pedagogy didactics and we see different examples, we are talking about methodologies. The school can follow a specific pedagogical line and encourage its teachers to make their lesson plans along this line. However, it will be the teacher's methodology that will make the difference in learning, even if it follows a more formal line.
In the text a tale of the two classrooms we saw that the first school, although it had a multicultural vision and respect for differences, erred in the methodology. While the second school, with more traditional teaching, achieved more student engagement.
The teacher of the first school was right in his initial plan, but he forgot that this type of work has to be built little by little in the class. It is a methodological process that students would have to go through to become aware of their own learning. The freedom of students in the classroom and the decentralization of the teacher is a process that has to be learned by both students and teachers.