Caring pedagogy: An Exploration on distance learning in English

Abstract

Believing in the significance of care in education, this study generally aimed to establish a theory on caring pedagogy in the context of distance learning in English. Specifically, it investigated the (1) educational needs of learners, (2) practices of English teachers, and (3) the responsiveness of English teachers' practices to learners' needs alongside the implementation of distance learning in English. This study employed a Constructivist Grounded Theory research design. Quantitative data sets were obtained from the results of the Learner's Educational Needs Checklist (LENC) and Teacher Care Appraisive Scale (TCAS). Qualitative data sets, on the other hand, were derived from the written interviews and focus group discussions. The respondents of his study were six English teachers and 36 learners. Quantitative data sets were analyzed using descriptive statistics while the constructivist grounded theory method was used in analyzing the qualitative data sets. The results enumerated the top 10 educational needs of learners with clear and detailed instructions in the top spot. Results also highlighted the different practices of English teachers divided into three major categories: pedagogical, relational, and communal. On the other hand, the practices of English teachers, taken as a whole, were found to be usually (m=4.02) responsive to the needs of the learners. As its final output, this study developed a research framework on caring pedagogy in the context of distance learning in English which showed that caring pedagogy is more than just the meeting of the learners' needs and the teachers' practices. The framework also confirmed the importance of Noddings' (1984) principles of care: engrossment, motivational displacement, and reciprocity. The resulting framework of this study suggests that all the education stakeholders must do their share in bridging the gaps in communicating caring pedagogy as it is very essential, especially in these challenging times.