Activity 1.2 - Definition

Read these brief definitions of Invitational Education:

"Invitational Theory is a view of professional practice that addresses the total environment and all relationships formed in educational and other human service organizations. It is a process for communicating caring and appropriate messages intended to summon forth the realization of human potential as well as for identifying and changing those institutional and relational forces that defeat and destroy potential." JITP 5(2), p. 63
Invitational Education is a theory of practice that:
  • Aims to understand the negative and positive signal systems that exist within the total educational environment.
  • Communicates caring and appropriate messages intended to promote the realisation of human potential
  • Identifies and changes those forces within education which would defeat and destroy potential
  • Asserts that every person and everything in and around the learning environment adds to, or subtracts from, the process of being a beneficial presence in the lives of students.

[Optional] Click the book icon to read more.

The link will take you to the Library database where you can download the PDF article. It gives a summary of Invitational Education (see page 28) and why it is important (see the first page).

Think about the above definitions and record your thoughts in your blog.

  • Think about how the definition points might relate to your own teaching practice.
  • Think about what they might mean from the perspective of the student.
  • Can you think of any specific examples?

Read through the assignment requirements

Access them from either the Module Information Booklet on the 'Home' page or under 'Assignment Information and Submission' on the 'Info and Assignments' page.

For Assignment 2 - Part A you are required to write notes about your teaching over the time of the module. So you need to start now and continue as you learn more about what it means to 'be inviting'.

Think about how will do this. Will you...?

  • record yourself teaching (we have cool little devices that can help if you ask me)
  • take photos
  • ask someone to do an observation
  • get student feedback
  • write notes during the break and after a class while the experience is still fresh in you mind...

You may want to create another page/section in your blog for storing these notes. (OneNote lets you attach various types of media and is great on your mobile device).

I can provide suggestions and assistance with all of this so please don't hesitate to talk to me on Wintec Extension 8573.