Critical Pedagogy: Notes from the Real World

by Joan Wink

This text is an accessible analysis of critical pedagogy that articulates multiple ways of applying its principles in various contexts. Critical Pedagogy, Fourth Edition, offers thoughtful examination of the theoretical models of critical pedagogy in an engaging, understandable writing style.

In this edition, the author maintains the strengths of a clear, engaging writing style with first-person narrative and lucid explanations of key concepts, which makes critical pedagogy more meaningful for students to learn and instructors to teach. This powerful and accessible analysis of the often difficult rhetoric of critical pedagogy argues that critical pedagogy opens the door to a broader and deeper perspective on teaching and learning in the classroom and the community. The text strongly encourages teachers to continuously adapt teaching beliefs and strategies to meet the needs of today's classrooms. The ongoing cultural critique, which links the chapters, challenges readers to think more deeply.

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Teaching, Academic

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[J-Lynn Van Pelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent introduction to critical pedagogy. Wink has a relaxed writing style that makes the complex vocabulary and interactive strategies accessible. The best part of the book is the wealth of practical suggestions and curriculum ideas that are offered throughout.

Critical theory can be overwhelming and controversial, but in Wink's hands, it seems like a simple way to affect change in the classroom and empower the students.

[Jordan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Joan Wink explores critical pedagogy, a student-centered approach to teaching with emphases on collaboration and action. Students must read and identify problems and content, think critically about what they've discovered, and act on their knowledge. Thus, learning is not a transaction of knowledge between student and teacher, but a multifaceted process rooted in the real world. To explain this teaching and learning philosophy, Wink shies away from concrete definitions and linear structures, and instead cycles through personal stories, anecdotes, images and otherwise to try to explain what she believes about education.

So, if you cut out all the bullshit, you'd have a pamphlet.

Perhaps that sounds harsh, because I really do like the main ideas of Critical Pedagogy. I love the idea of turning education into action, and empowering students to act when they recognize a problem in their world. However, I just can't connect to Wink's writing style. She jumps so sporadically, and sometimes doesn't even introduce the context of her new story, so I just ended up getting lost. As did everyone else in my CI 512 class. I'm intrigued by the narrative approach to a textbook, I just struggle with this execution of it.

Consequently, my favorite chapters here are easily her most linear: Wink's chapter on the origins of critical pedagogy, and all of its influencing educators and philosophers; and her chapter of examples of how to apply critical pedagogy in a classroom. The latter of these is exactly what I need to know in preparation for teaching and empowering young adults, as opposed to paintings of feelings and recurring family stories.

So, I've read Wink, I've thought critically about her approach to learning, and I plan to act by incorporating what I like about critical pedagogy into my future classroom. O HAI I THINK I GET IT.

[Karina Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wink's book takes The Critical Pedagogy Reader and puts it into more understandable terms. It is a great reference to understanding The Critical Pedagogy Reader. It is a lighter read in comparison. It compares the banking method to critical pedagogy. It talks about the importance of redefining education and meeting every students thinking. How teaching can help you learn more. Talks a little about Vygotsky and his theories. How culture changes learning. Dialectic Dialog and Discourse. /the problem of hegemony. Naming, grooming, marginalizing, and silencing. The process of problem posing.

A very accessible read regarding pedagogy.

[Jonna Lappalainen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked Wink's writing style. She combines critical pedagogy theory and practice with some real life examples. I would recommend the book for students who already know at least something about critical pedagogy because the theory part isn't very comprehensive. Which is completely ok since the meaning of this book is to be notes from the real world :).

Wink's book is very welcommed to a theory which is full of difficult-to-read writings!

[Nicholas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book. Very personal. She describe critical pedagogy, rather than defines it. She uses personal examples and analogy, and description--she brings it to life.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a beginner's guide to critical pedagogy, and it took me forever to read. It was just too basic and was an overly simplified version of critical pedagogy.

[Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with Wink's educational politics- i.e., fluidity and flexibility in classroom methods and content, learning from the learner how they best interact with material, seeking from the students and their families what they need, seeing the classroom as a learning community and not a win or lose death match, hate for standardized testing, etc. I think I understand the ideological grounds that prevent her from spelling out learning theories, including the one that the book is based on, but her method didn't work for me as a learner. The book did work for some of my classmates, so by all means, give it a look/see.

I did glean good, solid, practical information from her classroom experiences (and those of some colleagues) and from some of her proposed classroom exercises.

[Sean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joan Wink provides an opportunity for readers to “learn, relearn and unlearn” what critical pedagogy means and how to practice it. She facilitates the process by providing opportunities for the reader to participate in reflection and questioning, while illustrating the vocabulary and rhetoric of the field with examples from her own experience. Wink includes a clear introduction to the founding thinkers and the philosophical roots of critical pedagogy. The book is an inspirational call to engage in the challenging process of transforming ourselves and our teaching.

[Bea Elwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first started this book three years ago when I went back to school to be a teacher but demands on my time and course work prevented me from finishing. I decided I was going to start over this summer and have been slowly making my way through it since May. Not something I could read for longer than 45 minutes and even then there's so much to digest that it just takes time.

"Patience and courage "

I underlined stuff so now that it sits on my shelf and I arrive to live the ideas I can look back but not have to reread. Only about 5 more books added to my Goodreads to-read list too!

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fantastic book for teachers and those who find themselves with the opportunity to teach. This book has been important in molding my view of the world and how it should be and what I can do to help guide my world in that direction.

[Mitzi Adkinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read for every educator. Probably one of the best books I have read about teaching.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one is always good to go back to for reference.

[Petter Nordal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very conversational primer on Critical Pedagogy, this book takes you through everything from the Frankfurt school's influence on Giroux to Alma Flor Ada's approaches to biliteracyu.

[Kristen Muldoon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read for 9200: Critical Pedagogy ... pretty conversational tone, examples, charts, etc. Good intro into the world of C.P.

[Forrie Miller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. Just terrible.

[Jessica Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for teachers and she uses a lot of interesting examples from her life.