For slow teaching: courageous and compassionate pedagogy in times of change
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Date
2025
Authors
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Routledge
Abstract
Slow teaching is a nascent movement forwarded by scholars who seek to imbue their teaching with attentiveness, deliberation, thoughtfulness, and open-ended inquiry. This paper presents findings from a Teaching Advancements at Universities (TAU) Fellowship project in which slow teaching practices were applied within a first year GES111 Introduction to Human Geography at the University of the Western Cape. Focusing on ‘Slow’ teaching not in terms of velocity but rather in terms of measured, deliberate, and reflexive methods, the experiment with slow practices attempted to not leave others behind at the expense of progress. Methodologically, the project was built upon reflective practice from the author as module coordinator and lecturer, a fellow lecturer, graduate lecturing assistant, a team of tutors, and registered GES111 students in 2023. Findings suggest that Slow teaching practices fostered epistemic justice by valuing everyday student knowledge, imagination and practice. This is where courage and compassion on the part of both teaching staff and students together can impact on pedagogy. The study’s findings offer practical insights for the application of Slow teaching practices that foster epistemic access and justice through the valuing of everyday student knowledge, imagination and practice in teaching & learning.
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Keywords
Authentic learning, Epistemic access, Geography education, Pedagogy, Slow teaching
Citation
Rink, B., 2025. For slow teaching: courageous and compassionate pedagogy in times of change. South African Geographical Journal, pp.1-16.