wk 4 - Learning Theories: Critical Theory

Critical theory 

• Premise that humans generate knowledge and meaning through reflective assessment and critique of society and culture by applying knowledge from the social sciences and the humanities.
• Learning process should be designed around the backgrounds, needs, and interests of students and should encourage a "dialogic" (as defined by Freire, 1993) relationship between teachers and students.
• Learning programs should establish a democratic setting where students are able to use their developing literacy skills to analyze critically their place in society, understand how certain cultural assumptions and biases have put them and their families at risk, and ultimately learn how to challenge the status quo. Critical adult education programs do not simply teach literacy and other basic skills; rather, they show students how they can use those skills to transform their lives and the society in which they live.