Editor's introduction to special theme issue [of International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning]: Pedagogical meanings emerging in practice (Part 1)

Abstract

[Introduction]: This is the first part of two issues of the International Journal of Pedagogies and Learning in 2008 both of which relate in a variety of ways to the theme of meanings emerging in practice. This theme was the major focus of the Third International Conference on Pedagogies and Learning in Brisbane, Australia in 2007 and several articles were post-conference submissions. In this issue, Part one, there are nine anonymously peer reviewed articles. As a cluster they consider pedagogical issues and impacts on both learners and teachers, and indeed relate to a range of meanings emerging in practice. These meanings involve the impact of the learning journey for learners, pedagogical approaches to enable learners to make sense of their experiences, the potential of the pedagogical journey to change attitudes and values, acknowledgment of learners’ life experiences and events that may impact on their learning, as well as pedagogies related to students’ acquisition of and learning in English as a foreign/second language. For teachers there is recognition of the need to acquire new ways of thinking about knowledge and accompanying values. Within this the importance of creativity and transdisciplinarity are emphasised. In recognising the important role of pre-service teacher education today, in it’s ability to prepare teachers who are able to in turn engage all students in learning, collectively these works reflect the globalisation of education and new contexts for learning with an accent on transformative pedagogical approaches (Mezirow & Associates, 2000).