Bookshelf: "Pedagogy of Support" by Nina Mikhailova, Semyon Yusfin, and Natalia Kasitsyna

Contents:

Full title of the work: "Pedagogy of Support: the Third Space of Education." It consists of two parts: "Book 1. Approaches to the Topic. Four Tactics" and "Book 2: Key Words, Experiences, and Models." This publication explores the concept of the third space in education, focusing on pedagogical approaches that support learners. Book 1 examines strategies and tactics that promote effective learning, while Book 2 presents key words and practical models that can be applied in educational practice. These materials are useful for educators, researchers, and anyone interested in modern education and its transformation. Educational Projects Publishing House offers a wide range of publications aimed at developing education and professional skills. We strive to provide readers with high-quality materials that will help them improve their knowledge and skills in various fields. Our goal is to create accessible and useful resources for students, teachers, and anyone interested in self-education. We are confident that everyone will find useful books, methodological recommendations, and teaching aids that meet modern educational requirements and trends.

Year of graduation: 2023.

A school operating on the class-lesson principle assumes that all students study the same material simultaneously, must master a single educational program within a set timeframe, and pass a final exam. This approach is aimed at the "average student." However, as Sergey Zaitsev, Associate Professor of the V. A. Guruzhapov Department of Educational Psychology at the Moscow State Pedagogical University, emphasizes, there is no single student with universal needs in the class. Instead, the class includes different children, such as Petya, Masha, and Vasya, each with their own individual characteristics and learning needs. This underscores the need to adapt educational methods to more effectively engage all students.

At the end of the 20th century, scientist and educator Oleg Gazman, a Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Education, emphasized the importance of taking into account the developmental characteristics of children to shape them as independent and free individuals. He emphasized that during a child's growth, a balance must be maintained between two key aspects: socialization and individualization. Socialization involves the assimilation of generally accepted norms, values, and behavior patterns, while individualization aims to develop the unique qualities and traits of each individual child. This approach promotes harmonious personal development and helps children adapt to society while maintaining their individuality.

Oleg Gazman believes that training and upbringing, as the main components of education, are focused solely on socialization and the transmission of general knowledge and norms. However, in his opinion, a third element—a supportive pedagogy—should be introduced into the educational process. This approach aims to promote self-determination and the development of each student's individuality, as well as to facilitate successful integration into society. A supportive pedagogy takes into account the unique characteristics and needs of students, which contributes to deeper and more effective learning.

Since the 1990s, Oleg Gazman has worked in the field of supportive pedagogy with colleagues and students, including Nina Mikhailova, Semyon Yusfin, and Natalia Kasitsyna, who were also employees of the Institute of Pedagogical Innovations and later the Institute of Psychological and Pedagogical Problems of Childhood of the Russian Academy of Education. In their work, "Supportive Pedagogy: The Third Space of Education," they summarized their ideas and methods, as well as thirty years of experience implementing supportive pedagogy in educational practice. This study highlights the importance of creating a supportive educational environment that fosters children's development and successful socialization. Supportive pedagogy aims to cultivate the uniqueness of each child, strengthen their individual perspective on life, and promote independence and maturation. This approach involves jointly identifying the student's interests and finding ways to overcome obstacles that prevent them from maintaining human dignity and achieving desired results in various areas. This concept has always been an important element in the practice of many talented educators. The history of education has progressed thanks to the discoveries made by outstanding teachers, relying on their intuition, energy, and inspiration. Now, thanks to modern analytical methods, new professional tools and strategies for interacting with children, as well as changing educational norms and societal expectations, supportive pedagogy has a more solid and accessible foundation. This allows for better support for children in their quest for self-realization and success.

Supportive pedagogy is an important approach in education developed by Nina Mikhailova, Semyon Yusfin, and Natalia Kasitsyna. It emphasizes creating conditions for successful learning and the personal development of each student. The main goal of supportive pedagogy is to help students overcome difficulties, as well as to develop confidence and motivation for learning.

This concept examines various methods and approaches that help support students who may face various barriers in the learning process. Teachers who apply the principles of supportive pedagogy create a comfortable educational environment where each student feels valued and heard. This helps not only improve academic performance but also develop social skills and emotional intelligence.

Supportive pedagogy aims to individualize the educational process, which allows for the unique needs and abilities of each student to be taken into account. This is especially relevant in today's educational context, where student diversity requires flexibility and adaptability from teachers. Thus, supportive pedagogy is a key element in creating an effective and inclusive education system.

"Support Pedagogy" includes two books. The first is a theoretical work that begins with a detailed explanation of the foundations of this pedagogical approach and its key principles. This approach emphasizes creating a supportive educational environment that fosters personal development and strengthens students' confidence. It is important to emphasize that "Pedagogy of Support" is aimed at forming successful and harmoniously developing individuals through active involvement in the learning process and respect for each student.

One of the key principles of supportive pedagogy is treating the child as an active subject. This implies creating conditions in which the child can make independent decisions, learn to overcome difficulties, recognize their needs and manage their behavior, as well as plan and organize their activities. Within this approach, the teacher does not seek to change the student in accordance with pre-established standards, but rather supports them, relying on their knowledge and experience. This position can be expressed as follows: “I can’t know exactly how you should act. What you decide may be the best option for both you and others. Try it! I am ready to support you and share what I know.”

Developing student agency is a complex and multifaceted process. The teacher must master various tactics of interaction with the child in order to adapt the approach to each specific situation. Researchers identify four main tactics that assist in this process. Each of them can be used both independently and in combination with others, which allows the teacher to more effectively support and develop the student's active position in learning.

• Protection tactics. If the child's activity is hindered by external circumstances that are insurmountable for him, the teacher's task is to protect the dignity and rights of the child. Such a circumstance can be, for example, bullying.

• Assistance tactics. In a situation where there are no external obstacles to development, it is important to help the child believe in his own strengths, to begin to actively act within his capabilities. This tactic is for cases when the child experiences a fear of failure, considers himself worse than others.

• Facilitation tactics. The child is no longer hindered by external circumstances and internal beliefs, he has adequate self-esteem - and at this stage the teacher creates a space in which the student learns to set goals, make decisions and make responsible choices.

• Interaction tactics. It is suitable for situations where a child is ready to act on their decision but requires the teacher's assistance to implement their choice. In this case, the teacher gives the student the opportunity to gain experience in planning joint activities, adhering to agreements, and sharing responsibility for the outcome.

The second book focuses on the key issues faced by educators under Oleg Gazman's leadership while developing a pedagogical support model. The authors provide answers formulated by scholars and analyze the process of this model's emergence and development. It began with the introduction of pedagogical innovations initiated by Oleg Gazman at the Orlyonok pioneer camp in the 1960s. Next, they discuss the transformation of the concept into a practical technological algorithm that is successfully implemented in the educational environment. Finally, the authors provide examples of the effective use of pedagogical support in the educational process, demonstrating its significance and impact on students and teachers.

The concept of pedagogical support has been successfully implemented in various educational institutions, as evidenced by specific case studies. Some schools have introduced the role of a freelance classroom teacher, which allows for a more effective organization of the educational process. Other examples include the creation of a service of individual mentors who help students cope with academic and personal difficulties. Also significant are the practices of supporting adolescents in additional education and working with graduates of orphanages, which facilitates their successful socialization and integration into society. These initiatives emphasize the importance of an individualized approach in education and support for each student.

This material will be useful for teachers and heads of educational institutions. It contains information and recommendations that will help improve the educational process and increase management efficiency. Teachers will find strategies for working with students here, and heads of educational institutions will find tools for optimizing the work of their teams. Take a look at the practical advice and current methods that will help you in your professional work.

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