With the new academic year comes renewed thinking and reflection on my practice; how my ideas and actions are embraced by my philosophies and ideals, and how I might seek to challenge my current ‘ways’ in considering new contexts and the influence of others. Such reflection has long characterised my approach to teaching and learning;…
Category: Research
The ‘architecture’ of learning
What follows are some brief reflections on ‘cognitive load theory’ and learning more generally. I am really interested in others’ viewpoints on how CLT ‘fits’ within music education. Hopefully, this generates some discussion… What is learning? As we explore our individual responses to this question there are sure to be common threads that emerge. For…
Considering Research in Schools
The term ‘research’ is thrown about a lot in schools, but often what happens is far from any real definition of the word. “The research shows…” has become a favoured line, when the ‘research’ is an essentially an ‘untested hunch’, a thought gleaned from an oft-biased, non-peer reviewed, glossy opinion piece, or a ‘no-expense-spared’ video peppered…
Growing greener and good enough…
I am heading into my thirteenth year as a music teacher… though I feel ‘greener’ than ever. I don’t see this as a bad thing — I am just more aware of my values and motivations. I know that I am, to borrow Swanwick’s phrase, a ‘good enough music teacher’ – “not some idealised perfection…
A ‘map’ for music education philosophy and practice
I am certainly not, in this forum, going to launch a proposition of a new philosophy of music education (I need more experience and time for that!) – though it is hard to escape our history in this area – but I will offer a ‘map’. Over the years, there has been some very robust…
Teachers owning education research
I am a teacher; I am also a ‘newly minted’ education researcher… and I think the latter very much supports and enhances the former. I am currently considering applying for a position in my school that brings education research into the ‘everyday life’ of teachers and students… but I am very wary of the baggage…
Dr Cade Bonar 