Book Review

Book Review
Title: Enabling Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education

By Mike Seal & Alan Smith
Submitted to:
Dr. Samina Malik
Submitted By:
Syeda Aqsa Bint-a-Zafar
DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION
FACULTY OF EDUCATION
INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY,
ISLAMABAD
INTRODUCTION
In order to take on the trends towards individualization, consumerism, and neoliberal

viewpoints in educational settings, "Enabling Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education"
argues that those working in higher education should embrace critical pedagogy as an
essential strategy. Critical pedagogy helps teachers and students find their place in the
ever-changing higher education landscape of today.
This book gives an in-depth account of critical pedagogy, including its goals,
methods, and guiding principles. It also provides a methodical approach for
implementing critical pedagogy in higher education. It explores the difficulties with
implementing critical pedagogy in higher education and responds to theoretical
arguments and critiques of the approach. The book offers real-world examples of
applying critical pedagogy in a variety of settings, including the curriculum,
evaluation, instruction, and educational procedures, intermediate spaces, and
institutional settings.
Essential Information about Book
Title: Enabling Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education
Author: Mike Seal and Alan Smith
First Copyright Date: First Published in 2021 by Critical Publishing Limited, UK
Type of Book: Non Fiction, Academic
General Subject Matter: The significance of applying critical pedagogy to enhance

teaching and learning in colleges and universities is covered in the book "Enabling
Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education". The fundamentals of critical pedagogy, its
objectives, and its application in various higher education settings are all covered in
the book. It also discusses the difficulties and conflicts related to this mode of
instruction.
Special Features: Pictures of Authors, Relevant examples in boxes, Figures of

concepts, important information is highlighted in the form of boxes. Color Scheme is
white pages, black text and information boxes in Grey color. Font size is 12 and
Nassim Latin font is used.
Price: $25 on Kindle (E - Book), $30 on Amazon (Paper Back)
ISBN: 978-1-914171-09-3
Author’s purpose in writing the Book
The writers are specialists in Critical Pedagogy and have ties to the world of
education. They wrote this book with the intention of providing lecturers with current
information. They contend that because modern lecturers are not unprepared for the
classroom and do not value their work, they are lone individuals. They are not
receiving comments or support. This is significant because, as students, they feel cut
off from the enthusiasm that drew them to become teachers. The authors of this book
therefore aimed to teach the lowest denominator, simplify things for them, and teach
them the evaluation criteria. To improve the learning environment for both teachers
and students, critical pedagogy provides a means of reestablishing connections with
the material and the teaching process.
The author employs a formal writing style that is coherent and clear in its
arguments. There is a fluidity of knowledge and proper handling of technical terms.
The Table of Contents provides important tools to construct more engaging and anti-
oppressive learning environments, and it breaks down important concepts in a
dynamic and readable manner.
This book has had a significant impact on me in that it has expanded my

understanding of critical pedagogy. The book examines the diverse and
multidisciplinary uses of critical pedagogy and contends that teachers may foster the
creation of genuine knowledge and the growth of critical thinkers by supporting such
practices. The authors' informal writing style. Education is seen as an informal,
shared, and negotiated experience in which the roles of teacher and student are fluid
and interchangeable via the lens of Enabling Critical Pedagogy. Authors have
constructed their arguments through narrative and descriptive techniques.
This book has had a significant impact on me in that it has expanded my

understanding of critical pedagogy. The book examines the diverse and cross-
disciplinary uses of critical pedagogy and contends that teachers may foster the
creation of genuine knowledge and the growth of critical thinkers by supporting such
practices. The authors' informal writing style. Education is seen as an informal,
shared, and negotiated experience in which the roles of teacher and student are fluid
and interchangeable via the lens of Enabling Critical Pedagogy. Authors have
constructed their arguments through narrative and descriptive techniques.
By recognizing the connections between their own privilege and oppression,

they inspire readers to become responsible practitioners and, in turn, strengthen
comprehension of the particular circumstances of every learner or group. They speak
for non-dominant epistemologies and ideologies and address innovative,
compassionate, and all-encompassing ways to de-standardize, de-colonize, and de-
center hetero-patriarchal norms within academia. There are poignant questions
throughout the book, which provide an opportunity for reflection and hands-on
experience with critical pedagogy.
Summary of the Contents
The aims of this book are to:
 Give a thorough overview of the process of enabling critical pedagogy in higher

education.
 Examine the theoretical discussions and conflicts that arise from this kind of
work. Provide real-world examples of how to enable critical pedagogy in the
classroom, within the curriculum, through assessment, through learning and
teaching, and in the spaces between.
 Describe the circumstances that must be met for critical pedagogy to thrive in
higher education.
The goal of the book is to encourage the reader to actively participate. As a result, we
draw attention to key points, practice-oriented questions, examples, and chapter
summaries. There are seven chapters in the book. The first chapter examines some of
the main ideas of critical pedagogy, including its tenets, objectives, methods, and
procedures for implementation. The potential for implementing critical pedagogy in
curriculum design is examined in Chapter 2. The application of critical pedagogy in
forthcoming assessments is covered in Chapter 3. The application of critical pedagogy
in teaching and learning is covered in Chapter 4. In Chapter 5, various university
initiatives and venues for critical pedagogy are examined and encouraged. In Chapter
6, the possibilities and requirements for becoming a critical educator in higher
education are examined. An institution can find a helpful set of criteria to support
critical pedagogy in this chapter. The last chapter provides a wrap-up. It makes the
case that critical pedagogy can be implemented in higher education, even at the
structural level, but we must be realistic about its limitations. It revisits the tenets,
objectives, and methods of critical pedagogy and considers the next course of action.
Critical Analysis
A comprehensive overview of the subject is given to professionals and

educational professionals in "Enabling Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education." The
book emphasizes both significant curriculum modifications and practical ways to
incorporate critical pedagogy into everyday practice. Essential tools to create more
stimulating and anti-oppressive learning environments are provided, and key concepts
are broken down in a dynamic and digestible way.
An intriguing reimagining of institutions and the frameworks within which

they function is provided by the book. Mike and Alan stress the importance of giving
voice to marginalized stories, like those of working-class, queer, and indigenous
communities, whose voices have been appropriated and silenced by academia. They
challenge the reader to confront the flaws in the current neoliberal, colonial teachings
and methodologies and criticize the white, patriarchal, Eurocentric, and class-based
character of higher education.
The book gives hope for truly rewarding experiences in higher education and
restores faith in oneself as a practitioner and student. The takeaway for readers is, "If
we don't try, we don't know." The book gives readers hope that educators can bring
about significant change and transformation in higher education, whether it is by
actively taking responsibility for academia's debt to the colonial world or by fostering
an inclusive environment for open discussion in everyday practice.
The possible barriers to supporting critical pedagogy in higher education are

discussed by Mike and Alan. They make the point that students are frequently
unaccustomed to learning in such dynamic, welcoming, and independent settings
where they are free to challenge one another and be authentic. Mike and Alan inspire
readers to redefine education's passivity by using courage and passion to step outside
of their comfort zone. By recognizing the connections between their own privilege
and oppression, they inspire readers to become responsible practitioners and, in turn,
strengthen comprehension of the particular circumstances of every learner or group.
They voice non-dominant epistemological and ideological viewpoints and address
innovative, humane, and comprehensive ways to de-standardize, de-colonize, and de-
center hetero-patriarchal norms within academia. There are touching questions
throughout the book, which provide an opportunity for reflection and hands-on
experience with critical pedagogy.
The writing in this book is coherent and clear. This book could be improved
by adding more case studies, useful advice, takeaways at the conclusion of each
chapter, and interactive elements to increase reader engagement.

Book Review - Syeda Aqsa Zafar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Book Review - Syeda Aqsa Zafar

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Book Review - Syeda Aqsa Zafar

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Title: Enabling Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education

Dr. Samina Malik

Syeda Aqsa Bint-a-Zafar

DEPARTMENT OF TEACHER EDUCATION

INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY,

In order to take on the trends towards individualization, consumerism, and neoliberal

Essential Information about Book

Title: Enabling Critical Pedagogy in Higher Education

Author: Mike Seal and Alan Smith

First Copyright Date: First Published in 2021 by Critical Publishing Limited, UK

Type of Book: Non Fiction, Academic

General Subject Matter: The significance of applying critical pedagogy to enhance

Special Features: Pictures of Authors, Relevant examples in boxes, Figures of

Price: $25 on Kindle (E - Book), $30 on Amazon (Paper Back)

Author’s purpose in writing the Book

This book has had a significant impact on me in that it has expanded my

This book has had a significant impact on me in that it has expanded my

By recognizing the connections between their own privilege and oppression,

Summary of the Contents

The aims of this book are to:

 Give a thorough overview of the process of enabling critical pedagogy in higher

A comprehensive overview of the subject is given to professionals and

An intriguing reimagining of institutions and the frameworks within which

The possible barriers to supporting critical pedagogy in higher education are

You might also like