Description:
At a time when education is becoming ever more standardized and technocratic, there is renewed interest in the interpersonal, even intimate phenomenon of pedagogical tact. Some speak of a renaissance. Like tact in general, pedagogical tact is a ready and delicate sense of what is fitting and proper in dealing with others. In pedagogy, these "others" are typically children, youth, or students, and tact is exercised as a kind of disposition that is oriented to the learners' maturation and eventual autonomy. It takes the form of a subtle but active discernment that arises when theories and prescriptions simply do not help.
This edited collection, the first to appear on pedagogical tact in English, includes contributions from several authors who are a part of the renaissance in this area. It also features a substantial introduction to the tradition of pedagogy from which tact emerges, and one that also traces the international development of understandings of pedagogical tact.
This rich collection of recent texts on pedagogical tact provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the intricate relationship between theory and practice. It explores various characteristics, contexts, and applications of pedagogical tact, featuring contributions from distinguished scholars from the USA, Sweden, France, Germany, and Switzerland. As the first English-language volume dedicated solely to this topic since Max van Manen's The Tact of Teaching (1991) and Pedagogical Tact (2015), it is an essential resource. Highly recommended.
-- Evi Agostini, Director of Studies - Education Directorate of Doctoral Studies, University of Vienna
Review Quotes: This insightful collection explores the art of pedagogical tact, the skilful and sensitive way educators respond to students in different situations. It provides a clear introduction to the balance needed between teaching theory and real-world practice, showing how educators adapt their approach in various contexts. Featuring contributions from leading scholars in the USA, Sweden, France, Germany and Switzerland, this is the first English-language volume focusing solely on pedagogical tact since Max van Manen's The Tact of Teaching (1991) and Pedagogical Tact (2015). A valuable resource for educators and researchers alike. Highly recommended. Evi Agostini, Associate Professor at the Department of Teacher Education and the Department of Education at the University of Vienna