Ameliagogy

In Ancient Greece, pedagogues were slaves who carried around the equipment of the children of their elite masters. This is the origin of the word pedagogy - the word we use to describe the disciplinary practice of teaching! More contemporary research and models of adult learning have led to androgogy (adult learning) but this too is problematic as the ultimate aim is to change the behaviour or transfer learning to a person to achieve organisational objectives without regard for the learner's values or agency. If that sounds like manipulation and gas-lighting to you then you've probably been to at least one professional development or corporate training initiatives but haven't yet finished a whole jug of kool-aid. Moreover, regard to whether the organisation's objectives are pro social, ethical or even legal/not evil generally aren't considered relevant. Ameliagogy is an emerging and evolving practice (or theoretical framework) aimed at teaching and learning that is pro social (intended outcomes can quantitatively/objectively be justified as helping nor harming our children and communities now and into the future) , just (consistent with natural justice, rule of law), ethical (transparent, accountable, informed consensual) and grounded in evidence for impact that is a justifiable return on investment as well as sustainable.