Because of the Vice Chancellor’s visit to three schools on 13 March, we have had to postpone this meeting of the Supervisor’s Forum. We will post a new date for the meeting once it is decided.

You are warmly invited to a meeting of the university’s Supervisors’ Forum

Between Theory and Practice: the pedagogical dimension of doctoral supervision 

Dr Cristina Devecchi, School of Education 

Wednesday 13 March ~ 12-2 pm ~ Cottesbrooke 201, Park Campus

This workshop aims to bridge the gap between the implicit theory of supervision and its practice. It will do so by providing a theoretical canvas onto which it would be possible to map personal practice and experiences as supervisors and teachers. In the first part of the session, an overview of major theories of learning would be provided. In the second part of the session, a more practical workshop will enable participants to make explicit the link between theories and their own practice.

According to McIntyre (2003) teaching is any action which facilitates learning. Yet, bridging the gap between the theory behind teachers’ actions and the observable pedagogical facilitation is complex. Cooper and McIntyre (1997) talk about teaching being a craft, while Huberman (1993) describes the teacher as an artisan. In both cases, teachers’ knowledge is said to be implicit, developed through practical experience, and justified by pragmatic needs. These views about teaching also raise a number of questions about the role of supervisors. Are supervisors teachers? What theories and theory-led actions facilitate doctoral students’ learning? How does that learning occur? Why do we need theories of learning? How can such theories help us to become better teachers and supervisors?

Between Theory and Practice is open to any research degree supervisor at the University of Northampton. Lunch is provided for those who sign up using Eventbrite. Please let Ian Livingstone know by email if you have particular dietary requirements.

Further information is available from Ian Livingstone (01604 893362).