69514 - Anthropology of Education (1) (LM)

Course contents

Classes start on 4th of February, 2015

Schedule of classes:

Wednesdays h. 9-12 and Thursdays 15-18. Room 2 - via Zamboni, 38, Room XI   

Program/Contents

The course deals with the topic of learning process in educational and working contexts, from the point of view of its social interactions.

Theories that have contributed to the comprehension of the learning process in anthropology, such as the sociocultural theory of Vygotskij or the ‘situated learning' of Lave and Wenger will be scrutinized. From an interdisciplinary viewpoint, particular attention will be paid to the contributions to experiential learning by Rogers, Schön  and Kolb.

These theories start from the assumption that the learner is an active agent that acquires abilities in a meaningful and inter-relational environment. Hence the study of the situated learning process is conducted in a systemic and social perspective, and is therefore no longer centered on individual characteristics that would favor personal developments.

During the course, the theoretical approach will refer systematically to the ethnographic methodologies, with special emphasis to the practices and activities in learning and working contexts of complex organizations. It will refer to the acquisition of habilities (and the various ways of conceiving of them) in the learning process.

Those students who will attend regularly the course and are interested in the topics dealt with, may get further contents from interviews by prof. Cristiana Natali in her course on ‘Methodologies of ethnographic researches'.

 

Readings/Bibliography

There are no differences in program for those who will not attend classes.

The oral exam will verify the reading of three volumes.

Mandatory reading:

Bonetti R., 2014, La trappola della normalità. Antropologia ed etnografia nei mondi della scuola, Firenze, Seid. 

One chosen among the following:   

Bateson G. 1984, Mente e Natura, Un'unità necessaria, Milano, Adelphi.

Bateson G. 1999, Questo è un gioco, Cortina.

Bateson G. 1976, Verso un'ecologia della mente, Milano, Adelphi.

Bateson, G. Mead, M. 1988, Naven, Torino, Einaudi.

Bateson, G. 1997, Una sacra unità. Altri passi verso un'ecologia della mente, Milano, Adelphi. 

One chosen among the following:

Dolci D. 2011, Dal trasmettere al comunicare, Ed. Sonda.

Knowles M. 2008 Quando l'adulto impara, andragogica e sviluppo della persona, Milano, Franco Angeli.

Lancy D. F., Bock J. C., Gaskins S. 2011, The Anthropology of Learning in Childhood, Altamira Press.

Lave J., Wengers E. 2006, L'apprendimento situato, Trento, Erickson.

McDermott R., Varenne H. 2008, Successful Failure, Westview Press.

Schön D. 1993, Il professionista riflessivo, Bari, Dedalo.

Sclavi M. 2003, Arte di Ascoltare e mondi possibili, Mondadori.

Rogers C. 1973, Libertà nell'apprendimento, Firenze, Giunti Barbera.

Vygotskij L.1990, Immaginazione e creatività nell'età infantile, Editori Riuniti.    

Teaching methods

Various methods of teaching will be used in order to meet the formative needs and the requests of students attending the lectures, The course has a seminar-like structure, with moments devoted to collective readings and film watchings. An active participation of students in class and readiness to share their opinion about the readings is a requirement.

Assessment methods

The student will have to hold an individual oral exam on the basis of the suggested bibliography, of the notes from the lectures and of the contributions made by their fellow classmates in class. The final evaluation is cumulative and will keep into account the students' involvement in any phase of the formative process. Active participation in class and in the lab activities is integral part of the final evaluation.

In particular, the following items will be tested:

command of theoretical and methodological basic knowledge as taught in lectures and seminars;

command of elements of theoretical knowledge as provided by the bibliographical leads;

capacity to critically scrutinize, observe, describe and analyze the various topics debated in the course;

the student's ability to critically integrate any topics debated in class, their critical use and the command of the scientific language will award them notes of excellence. 

Language:

Italian

Office hours

See the website of Roberta Bonetti