39587 - General Psychopedagogy

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course, the student will be able to: understand the pedagogical import of human behavior and interpersonal relationships; understand the relational dynamics between individuals in social contexts and workplace structures.

Course contents

The course sets out from a pedagogical perspective to human sociality and the organization of daily activities. It is divided into three macro-modules. The first module discusses the basis of a phenomenological approach in education. The second module focuses on human communication and interpersonal relationships within various organizations (e.g., schools, companies). The third module is dedicated to individuals’ understanding and interpretation of space and materialities. The three modules aim to develop a critical approach to the analysis of human sociality, which takes into account the role of the subject, of social interaction, and of the socio-material environment in the joint construction of a shared social reality.

 

Phenomenology and education

In the first module we will explore the roots of phenomenology, discussing the central role of the subject in the interpretation and local re-construction of the social world. These reflections will lead to a discussion of the concepts of culture and intersubjectivity and to an appraisal of the phenomenological perspective in education. On the basis of numerous examples from everyday life, we will consider mundane processes of socialization and the implicit opportunities for learning and development in formal and informal contexts.

 

Interpersonal communication and workplace studies

The second module focuses on interpersonal communication and its central role in the construction of a shared social world. We will explore the theoretical bases of communication, examining how language and everyday interactions serve as the basis for human sociality. This general reflection will be extended to the analysis of communication in organizational settings. By observing and examining everyday practices in organizational and workplace settings, we will explore how communication contributes to both the reproduction and transformation of these environments.

 

Spaces, materiality and everyday action

The third module adopts a sociological perspective to examine how space and material objects are perceived and interpreted in everyday practice. Building on previous studies in ethnomethodology, we will explore how human agency and creativity can arise within specific sociocultural and material environments, contributing to the ways these environments are shaped and re-constructed. This discussion will include a reflection on how spaces, objects, and technologies 'suggest' specific uses and courses of action.

 

The course will combine lectures with practical exercises and group discussions. Students’ active participation is very welcome and will constitute an integral part of the course.

Readings/Bibliography

The reading materials will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Teaching methods

Lecture, small group exercises, plenary discussion.

Assessment methods

To complete the course, participants will be required to take part in a group assignment and undertake a short oral exam on the topics covered during the lectures. The assessment criteria for group work, presentations, and the oral exam will be discussed during the course.

Teaching tools

Slides, articles, videos, transcripts

Office hours

See the website of Nicola Nasi