Within the Mantle of the Expert approach there is an expert or an enterprise (the pupil) and a client who needs said enterprise is assistance (the teacher): the pupil must try to meet the needs of the client which are provided by the teacher. The use of an enterprise puts the learning in context which is an important pedagogical tool and promotes a hands on approach to learning.
We have been using this practice within seminars. We were provided with a job by our client (our lecturer) which we in our individual groups as 'experts' must complete.
We were to imagine ourselves as building constructors with the task of building a functional bridge in an area in Swansea. This involved creating our own enterprise in which each group member had a certain role to play. As a company, we decided what steps should be taken to complete the bridge, what materials should be used, what type of bridge would be most effective and what would look most aesthetically pleasing and be most cost effective. However before these decisions could be made we had to undergo research in order to fill the brief given by our client.
Having experienced learning through the Mantle of the Expert approach I feel it is a engaging and enjoyable pedagogy as it effectively grasped hold of each student in the class is imagination and had a positive result. I feel it would bring out good results in children as it actively involves individuals thus benefiting the quality of learning. On the whole it is an effective and interesting teaching style.
Here are some photos:
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| The step's needed to be taken. |
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| The finished model. |
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| design of the bridge. |
http://www.mantleoftheexpert.com/about-moe/introduction/why-work-this-way/
