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Brookfield (1995/2005) uses an extended metaphor based on images formed by lenses. He uses vocabulary such as ‘focus’ and mentions four distinct lenses by which you can look at your teaching…
- Autobiographical lens (as both teacher and learner)
- Our students eyes
- Our colleagues perceptions of our practice
- The views provided by educational writings (theory)
The autobiographical lens is provided by your reflective writing and accounts of your critical incidents. You have been obtaining some feedback from your students in various ways - evaluation sheets, checklists and so on. You have had ‘formal’ observations by various people but also may have had informal support and guidance from other teachers. Finally, we have tried to engage with ‘educational theory’ in all its diverse glory.
I know that for some of you, the autobiographical element will include a strong identity as a member of a vocational group (artist, photographer, restaurant manager, tourism officer, sports coach, holistic therapist), and that the process of shifting focus to teaching a vocational course may have been influenced by the vocational identity.
I know that some of you have been mainly concerned with the issues of interaction with students and the need to provide structure while allowing students to grow.
I know that some of you have been concerned with teaching adults - often older than yourselves - and have found andragogy to provide a useful range of strategies and a way of talking about the issues.
I look forward to seeing what sense you can make of the images projected by these lenses in the presentations. In addition to making your presentation, may I ask that you think of thoughtful and supportive questions for your colleagues that will help them to clarify their views?
