Assistant teacher course/Theory of education

Discussing publications
The participants should have had enough time to devise their own theories and perspectives by now. In this course phase the participants should discuss relevant passages from publications in the field of education. An example is the quote below from John Dewey's Democracy and Education. The quote should be discussed in relation to the previous course phase "Theory formation". More quotes can be found, for instance, in the teachers' handbook.

The recommended procedure is to form work groups who are given several passages each. The same passage can be handed out several times to different groups. For each quote the group should be given more context (e.g. whole chapters or collections of earlier passages that are relevant for understanding the passage). The groups should be given time to read and discuss the passages they have received and should lead the following discussion when their passages are presented.

Applying the understanding gained the groups should prepare to ask the relevant questions so others can make the relevant conclusions and not prepare a full (but potentially boring) explanation of what the passages aim to convey. The groups can also prepare incompatible perspectives (irrespective of their actual opinions) and challenge each other's perspectives in the discussion. The preparation can arrange for the opportunity of Socratic debate following a predetermined course.