Dr Rick Bowler from the School of Social Sciences describes how critical practice seminars can encourage students, practitioners, service users and academics to develop an inclusive culture of professional learning. The aim has been to make learning transformational and inspirational for students and break away from the usual transactional, modular approach.
Critical Practice Seminars create a subject specific, timed and safe pedagogical space for individual dialogue between study-based peers, practitioners and mentors in order to name and challenge prior orientations about knowledge, ability and belonging.
Themes for the seminars were decided by the academic team in discussion with critical practitioners from the field and chosen to be challenging or contentious. Participants in the seminars included local/regional experts on the chosen topic (alumni if possible) together with academics and students from across a number of related subject areas.
For further information contact Dr Rick Bowler at rick.bowler@sunderland.ac.uk .