B3448 - Methodologies of Observation and Pedagogical Reflexivity

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows and knows how to apply observation, reading and qualitative analysis tools of the experience; - is able to use their own observations/descriptions in the working relationship with other professionals and according to a logic of professional reflexivity; - starting from the analysis of experience, knows how to trace the design elements of educational paths; - knows and knows how to apply the concepts of "networking", "active listening", "needs analysis", "integrating background", "documentation and narrative evaluation"; - is able to reflect on the construction of the professional identity of socio-pedagogical educators; - knows the role, the areas of intervention and the professional specificity of the socio-pedagogical educator; - knows how to analyze the context and detect its institutional, social, cultural, educational and individual dimensions; - knows how to reflect on the action with a critical sense and adequate decentralization and starting from their own disciplinary and relational skills, based on the constraints, critical issues, problems and/or resources and potential of the context; - is able to identify and analyze educational emergencies in the socio-historical-cultural context in which he is called to operate; - knows how to recognize and is able to grasp the dimensions of environmental and social sustainability linked to the profession of socio-pedagogical educator.

Course contents

The course is made up of two main parts. The first will focus on observation, both as a method of collecting qualitative data in educational contexts and as a specific learning tool in educational relationships and professional experience.

The second will see the involvement of professionals engaged in educational work and coming from different contexts: educational and therapeutic communities, schools, communities (street education and aggregation centres).

Readings/Bibliography

1. Maida S., Molteni L., Nuzzo A., Education and observation. Theories, methodologies and techniques. Carocci, 2022 (first edition 2009)
Text to be studied in its entirety

2. Morciano D. (ed.), Observation, reflexivity, and learning in the helping professions. Psychoanalytic work discussion. Franco Angeli, 2020
Study chapters 1 through 6, 9, 10, and 11. Omit: 7, 8, and 12

(Original title: Social Defenses Against Anxiety: Explorations in a Paradigm, edited by David Armstrong and Michael Rustin; Work Discussion: Learning from Reflective Practice in Work with Children and Families, edited by Jonathan Bradley, Margaret Rustin)

Teaching methods

The content of the course allows you to delve into teaching methodologies for activating the setting: games-exercises, brain storming, guided discussions, role playing, theatrical practices.

The operational stimuli and the observational-reflective practice will be guided through readings of texts, images, videos, films relevant to the main themes covered in the course (Contents and connections: reading, writing, observing - Processes and relationships: emotions and context - Reflexivity: areas and relational learning - Industriousness and operation: person/role dialectic).

Assessment methods

The path includes some ongoing assessment methods, such as exercises, individual work, in pairs, in groups, which have the value of formative evaluation to monitor the learning processes.

The summative part includes a final test which, based on the number of participants, may be oral or written.

Teaching tools

Some in-depth materials to support the acquisition of knowledge will be provided in e-learning site Virtuale and introduced during the lessons.

Office hours

See the website of Alessandro Zanchettin