Improvisational Teaching for Developmental Learning

By:
Christine Helm
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Good teaching is improvisational (Baker-Sennett & Matusov, 1997; Borko & Livingston, 1989; Yinger, 1980, 1987). Why? – Because learning is a social and cultural process. Effective learning takes place in environments that 1) support some kind of development or transformation in students; 2) encourage them to take risks to discover and create; and 3) generate responsibility, ownership and pride. Learning takes place in these kinds of environments because people are creators, changers and performers. Building on this understanding and 20 years of classroom experience, this presentation will pose the question, “How can we play and create with each other in a college classroom?” and will help teachers see that they can become better learners and develop their students’ capacity to work together as an ensemble without fear of losing control of the curriculum.


Keywords: Learning, Teaching, Vygotsky, Development, College
Stream: Adult, Vocational, Tertiary and Professional Learning
Presentation Type: 30 minute Paper Presentation in English
Paper: Improvisational Teaching for Developmental Learning

Christine Helm

Director, Continuing and Professional Studies, Fashion Institute of Technology / State University of New York
New York, New York, USA

Christine Helm is director of the Enterprise Center at the Fashion Institute of Technology/ State University of New York. She earned an M.A. in Anthropology and Education and M.Ed. in Applied Anthropology at Columbia University's Teacher's College. A Vygotskian orientation guides her critical re-examination of the basic assumptions underlying traditional psychology and education. She teaches entrepreneurship at both the undergraduate and graduate level including courses open to the general public through Continuing and Professional Studies.

Ref: L07P0793