Liberal Education and Social Change

The collaborative approach in Health Education and Training

“…an inadequate approach. There is little to no provision in teacher education to inculcate the required participatory and collaborative group-discussion interaction skills in teachers and this, it is claimed, is at the root of the ineffectiveness of many initiatives in education to promote critical awareness and individual autonomy (Lane and Lane [Jones], 1986). A similar lack of provision exists for health service personnel.…”

“…(1987a, p.36) Implicit in this is the view which has increasing support to-day, that the most effective way of encouraging individuals to ''think and enquire'' is by employing a teaching strategy which makes them "feel that their own viewpoint mattered", i.e. an 'equal-footing' or 'collaborative, enquiry-based' strategy (see Lane and Lane [Jones], 1986). Such a strategy nurtures people's self-esteem, makes them feel their viewpoint matters, makes them feel they have the ability and right to question existing situations and authorities, and therefore encourages them to participate in the decision-making process -so vital for influencing attitudes and behaviours as Lewin showed.…”