critical theory to study in and out school context

Ravi Mishra (M.Sc., M.Ed.) 1

Critical Theory to Study Educational Experiences

In and Out School Context

Semester IIPerspective Course 5: Curriculum studies

Module II, Unit 4: Inquiry into Curriculum studiesPart B


Content• Critical theory• Educational Experiences of school– Inside school experiences– Outside school experiences

• Critical theory to analyse classroom context

• Classroom Implications • Role of teacher


Theory• A contemplative and rational type of abstract or

generalizing thinking, or the results of such thinking• Context specific or generalized. eg. how nature works• Can be normative providing "goals, norms, and

standards etc.“ or what ought to be, or can be systematic body of knowledge

• Dictonary.com - ‘a coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena’

• Webster – ‘an idea that is suggested or presented as possibly true but that is not known or proven to be true’


• What do you mean by critical theory ?

• Differences in understanding of the term critical theory in diverse and contested ways using various models and stages of the discourse. Therefor, no one single or dominant understanding of critical theory.


Critical theory• Jurgen habermas defined critical theories

into two clusters, one in literary and another in Sociology.

• First cluster talks about,– literary research, attempts to understand

narratives, literary devices, performances, language etc.

– Looks at all the ways that human, their activity and cultures are described and discussed in literature.

•


Critical theory• Second cluster of critical theory according

to habermas is about Critical social self reflection.

• This theory of more relational to educational field

• Its about self knowledge of individual in relation to border system of which we are part of. What relation do we have

• How one seeks freedom and autonomy over life choices in administered society that seeks own power and control.


Critical theory• Reflective assessments and critique of society and culture by

applying knowledge from the social sciences and humanities.• Oriented towards criticizing and changing the society as

whole in contrast to traditional theories which only oriented to understand or explain it.

• Aims to dig dipper beneath the surface of social life and uncover the assumptions that keep us from a full and true understanding of how the world works.

• Developed by group of sociologist at Frankfurt school (Germany), namely Jurgen Habermas, Herbert Marcuse, Walter Benjamin, Max Horkheimer, and Theodor Adorno.

• Has two different meanings.– First, in sociology and political philosophy– Second, in literary studies and literary theory


Critical theory• Two core concepts of critical theory are,– Should be directed at the totality of society – should improve the understanding of society

by integrating • According to Max Horkheimer, an

adequate critical theory meets 3 criteria, – Explanatory (explain what is wrong with

current social reality)– Practical (identify the actors to change it)– Normative (provide both clear norms for

criticism and achievable practical goals for social transformation)


• To sum-up,– It is systematic critique or analysis of

social experiences and system of human beings to determine visible and invisible forces or structures which constrain, inhibit, encourage or enhance personal freedom.

– It is cluster of theme inspired by quest for freedom.

– It is searching, seeking, questioning for freedom against constrains and abolition of social injustice.


Learning experiences• Any interaction, course, program, or other

experience in which learning takes place,• traditional academic settings (schools,

classrooms) through traditional educational interactions (students learning from teachers and professors)

• non-traditional settings (outside-of-school locations, outdoor environments) through non-traditional interactions (students learning through games and interactive software applications, discussions, talk, watching social situations, TV, Radio, Social Network etc.).


School context• Teaching learning process • Observation of teachers and other students, staff• Various curricular and extra curricular activities and

hidden curriculum practices• Teacher students relations• Social integration• Opportunity• Achievement• Adventure• General satisfaction• Negative effect• Quality of school curriculum• Classroom environment


Outside school context• Marketing shopping• Visits, trips, excursions, picnic, family vacations etc.• Travelling, • Interaction with family, friends and others• Nature,• Neighbourhood and society• Movies, drama, dance, TV etc.• Print – electronic- Social media• Internet• Observations and imitations outside school


Let’s reflect upon• Who has the power over these

situations ?• How one is forced to suffer from

these situations?• What power one has to overcomes

these situations?• Which one is dominating force ?• How one is objectified, supressed

and pushed down?


Use in education• Helps to develop Critical pedagogy• To make students a rational human

being rather than just mute follower of system

• Re-examine and reconstruction of curriculum

• Power negotiations


References• http://www.fed.cuhk.edu.hk/~cthk/sc/paper/c5.pdf• http://dictionary.reverso.net/english-cobuild/

educational%20experience• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Out-of-school_learning• http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/theory• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_theory• http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?

article=1155&context=teachlearnfacpub• http://www.tonywardedu.com/critical-education-

theory