How can we enact the power of modeling?
Stephen Brookfield, Jürgen Rudolph, Shannon Tan · 2023
A particular benefit of modeling worth reemphasizing is about earning the moral right to invite participants into difficult learning. This chapter explores modeling techniques across four different contexts: in classroom teaching, staff development, as part of leadership and mentoring, and in community or political involvements. It investigates in particular the complex notion of treating people with respect. Depending on the racial and cultural formations, it may be very difficult for students (especially from Asian cultures) to critique their teacher’s work. It requires trust and time to bring them to this point, and it’s necessary for us to model self-critique before the teachers ever think of inviting our students to critique our work. Listening carefully is at the heart of communication. Without an ability to pay attention to another’s views and experiences, the chances of ever understanding them, let alone engaging in any meaningful communication, is severely reduced.