Learning in Higher Education - The Impact of Relationships

Abstract

Whereas traditional learning theories locate explanations of learning and performance within the individual, this research is based instead on the view that learning is a socially mediated process that comes about by participation in the valued practices of a particular context. Furthermore, that participation can be enabled or disabled through processes in the environment which impact upon the student. Taking a view here of pedagogy as being not simply the methods of teaching used, but as an interactive, relational process in which knowledge is mediated between individuals (Walker, 2007,) this research explores pedagogic relationships in Higher Education, and how these help to shape students’ learning. The poster will diagrammatically represent the integration of three theoretical perspectives which will be used to challenge traditional notions of learning. It will also illustrate how when used together, these perspectives are capable of providing a framework which can be used for the analysis, explanation and understanding of students’ learning in Higher Education