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Storytelling for ordinary, practical purposes (Walter Benjamin’s ‘The Storyteller’)

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Resumo:This essay explores the role that storytelling can play in teachers’ learning. Walter Benjamin’s ‘The Storyteller’ provides a theoretical framework that enables us to highlight the complexity of the professional learning of teachers when they share stories about their everyday lives. We develop our argument by presenting two instances of teachers representing their professional experiences through storytelling, using these examples (which are drawn from two distinct research projects) to reflect on the learning they accomplish by telling their stories. In the first example, Portuguese teachers involved in a professional learning programme use storytelling to develop their understanding of their practice as literacy educators. In the second example, Australian teachers who participated in a research project tell stories that challenge the way standardised literacy testing devalues their experience as educators. The lesson we draw from these examples affirms the socially grounded character of storytelling for the professional learning and renewal of teachers vis-à-vis a policy environment that privileges other forms of knowledge.
Autores principais:Pereira, Íris Susana
Outros Autores:Doecke, Brenton
Assunto:Storytelling Narrative Teachers Experience Professional learning Political critique
Ano:2016
País:Portugal
Tipo de documento:artigo
Tipo de acesso:acesso aberto
Instituição associada:Universidade do Minho
Idioma:inglês
Origem:RepositóriUM - Universidade do Minho
Descrição
Resumo:This essay explores the role that storytelling can play in teachers’ learning. Walter Benjamin’s ‘The Storyteller’ provides a theoretical framework that enables us to highlight the complexity of the professional learning of teachers when they share stories about their everyday lives. We develop our argument by presenting two instances of teachers representing their professional experiences through storytelling, using these examples (which are drawn from two distinct research projects) to reflect on the learning they accomplish by telling their stories. In the first example, Portuguese teachers involved in a professional learning programme use storytelling to develop their understanding of their practice as literacy educators. In the second example, Australian teachers who participated in a research project tell stories that challenge the way standardised literacy testing devalues their experience as educators. The lesson we draw from these examples affirms the socially grounded character of storytelling for the professional learning and renewal of teachers vis-à-vis a policy environment that privileges other forms of knowledge.