How can teaching through humanism positively impact our tamariki?

I believe that implementing a humanistic approach into your pedagogy is a significant responsibility of a kaiako.

A humanistic approach to education stems from humanist philosophical approaches. By implementing a humanistic pedagogy into the classroom you are giving students the opportunity to be their unique selves, achieve their goals and reach their potential. It is interesting to note that a humanist approach to learning is part of the progressive education movement—which challenges traditional teaching methods. 

"Poipoia te kakano kia puawai—Nurture the seed and it will blossom"

So, how does this child-centred and democratic approach to learning impact our students?

Humanism’s impact on the whole child:

A humanistic approach to learning is a progressive and holistic pedagogy that values individuality, uniqueness, and collaboration (Tangney, 2013). The whole child is considered and supports students in developing their emotional, social, academic, and physical needs. There is a significant emphasis on relationships and collaborative learning. When a child is exposed to humanist pedagogy they are met with high expectations and the belief that they are capable to succeed in all aspects of their lives—boosting self-efficacy and confidence (Duschesne & Mcmaugh, 2019).

Humanism’s impact in the classroom:

In a humanistic classroom, you will find students directing their own learning, with the teacher serving as a facilitator rather than an instructor. Cooperative learning is a primary aspect of humanistic pedagogy. Some other aspects that are valued in a humanistic learning environment include:

• Open and honest teaching

• Empowered students

• Valuing the identity of students 

• Engaging students in rich, meaningful learning activities

• Taking advantage of the natural curiosity that children foster

By endorsing these progressive values—students learn about the importance of cooperation, individuality, and participation. When teachers practice humanistic pedagogy we are supporting the whole child and supporting them to reach their aspirations and full potential (Tangney, 2013; Duschesne & Mcmaugh, 2019).

References

Duschesne, S., & Mcmaugh, A. (2019). Humanist approaches to learning. In Educational psychology: for learning and teaching (pp. 302–332). Cengage Learning Australia.

Tangney, S. (2013). Student-centred learning: a humanist perspective. Teaching in Higher Education, 19(3), 266–275. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2013.860099