Tag: praxis

Practice

In the words of Periander, one of the Seven Sages of Greece, “Practice is everything”. This is usually translated as:

practice makes perfect

The Seven Sages, depicted in the Nuremberg Chronicle 1493
The Seven Sages, depicted in the Nuremberg Chronicle 1493

Some participants LOVE theory: give them sources and concepts, reports and ruminations, inspirations and ideas, as well as books and bibliographies.

Some participants LOVE action: give them activities and exercises, puzzles and practice time, as well as scenarios and simulations.

Put the theory and action together for powerful learning, called praxis.

secondnature

Friedrich Froebel noticed the natural activity of children and designed play gifts to enable each child to learn though play.

Praxis

Praxis may be described as a form of critical thinking and comprises the combination of reflection and action.

Praxis can be viewed as a progression of cognitive and physical actions:

  1. Taking the action
  2. Considering the impacts of the action
  3. Analysing the results of the action by reflecting upon it
  4. Altering and revising conceptions and planning following reflection
  5. Implementing these plans in further actions

This creates a cycle which can be viewed in terms of educational settings, learners and educational facilitators.

Praxis has been described as:

“doing something, and then only afterwards, finding out why you did it”

Few educators speak of praxis. While praxis may not be part of many workers overt vocabulary, practice, is. What is praxis and why should educators be concerned with it?
Few educators speak of praxis. While praxis may not be part of their vocabulary, practice, is. What is praxis and why should educators be concerned with it?

Praxis is not simply action based on reflection.

It is action which embodies certain qualities. These include a commitment to human well being and the search for truth, and respect for others. It is the action of people who are free, who are able to act for themselves.

Praxis is always risky. It requires that a person ‘makes a wise and prudent practical judgement about how to act in this situation’ (page 190, Carr, W. and Kemmis, S. (1986) Becoming Critical. Education Knowledge and Action Research)