What is pedagogy? What are some of the pedagogical approaches for effective teaching? How these approaches differ from one another? What are their merits and demerits? Pedagogy is simply the art and science of teaching

1. What is Pedagogy?
• Pedagogy refers to the art and science of
teaching.
• It determines the method and practice of
teaching.
• Some effective pedagogical approaches are-
• Behaviourism
• Constructivism
• Social constructivism
• Liberationist approach

2. Behaviourism:
• It is a teacher centered appraoach, typically
adopts a lecture based method of teaching (still
practiced by many teachers in India)
• It is an old approach of teaching introduced by
incorporating the theories of Throndike (Trial and
Error method), Pavlov (Conditioning-
stimulus/response) and BF Skinner (Operant
conditioning)
• It is useful only in case of Higher studies where
the students are mature and capable of
understanding the social dynamics.

3. Constructivism:
• It states that children create their own meaning and
teacher is a guide, who creates the environment for
learning.
• It is by definition a student centered learning approach
derived by incorporating the theories of Jean Piaget.
• Teaching-learning is done in an interactive manner with
equal or more inputs from children than teachers;
children’s prior knowledge and understanding are used
as a base of teaching.
• Strategies used are interaction, reinforcement, models,
probing questions, technological aids, etc.

4. Social constructivism:
• It is a mixed approach that considers significance of
teacher, along with learner centeredness, in contrast to
constructivism.
• Derived from the theories of Lev Vygotsky
• It states that knowledge is created through interaction
with others, meaning teachers, peer, society, etc.
• While constructivism stresses on observation of
children this approach stresses on interactive of
children.
• The strategies are quite similar to constructivism, but
more emphasis is given on group works to provide
optimum exposure to the children for interaction.

5. Liberationist Approach:
• As the name suggests it advocates democratization of
the classroom and its practices.
• Derived from the theories of Paulo Freire.
• It supposes teacher as a guide on the side rather than a
sage on the stage.
• Meaning children should be allowed to create their
own meaning.
• It assumes the biases in teachers regarding socio-
political and cultural issues, which could hamper the
children from emancipation through education.
• It is effective in the sense, children are given scope to
nurture a democratic sprit right from their childhood
by allowing them to create their own meaning.

6. *Liberationist approach is not applicable for lower classes, because small
children need adequate teacher guidance.
Behaviourism
• Teacher centered.
• Lecture based method.
• Strict classroom
environment.
• Less interaction.
• Memory based execises.
• Only cognitive domain is
employed
Behaviourism
• Learner centered.
• Each child as unique Individual.
• Interactive classroom
environment.
• Maximum exposure.
• Practical based exercises
• Peer discussions.
• problem solving
• All domains- Cognitive,
Psychomotor & Affective are
employed.
DIFFERENCES &MERIT/DEMERITS