Pedagogical Tact: Knowing What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do (Phenomenology of Practice)

by Max Van Manen

Pedagogical Tact describes how teacher-student relations possess an improvisational and ethical character. The daily realities of educators, parents, and childcare specialists are pedagogically conditioned by sensitive insights, active thoughtfulness, and the creative ability to act caringly and appropriately in the immediacy of the moment. Internationally known educator Max van Manen shows through recognizable examples and evocative stories how good teaching is driven by the phenomenology of pedagogy. His book-refocuses educators and others away from an emphasis on instrumental skills and technocratic programs toward the need for pedagogical tact;-describes how pedagogical actions have latent effects that will influence children throughout their lives;-shows how our actions with young people have pedagogically ethical and moral significance;-gives educators back their original vocational motivation and inspiration.

Genres: Education

240 pages, Paperback

First published November 30, 2015

About the author

At present Max van Manen is involved is a post-retirement teaching program at the University of Alberta where he has been teaching the doctoral research seminar Phenomenological Research and Writing. In addition Max van Manen is working of several books on phenomenological methodology and pedagogy as an ethical practice.
http://www.maxvanmanen.com/

Reviews

[Sean Legnini · Rating 5 out of 5]

I once again find myself wishing that I had read this book 15 years ago before I began my career in teaching and education. van Manen’s ability to describe a phenomenological pedagogy is so clear in this book. Beautifully written with phenomenological anecdotes throughout to explain the tact that van Manen is describing. Highly recommended for anyone looking for the language to describe what they already know is excellent, child-centered and relational pedagogy.

[Mills College Library]

371.1023 V262 2015