Implement “biographical disruption” as an anchor for critical reflection in online learning

Authors

Christopher J. Cachia, Toronto Metropolitan (formerly Ryerson) UniversityFollow

Strategy Description

A term first coined by Bury (1982) to describe chronic illness as an embodied break with the experience of everyday life, biographical disruption considers the knowledge that underpins one’s experiences. The following strategy captures how biographical disruption may be implemented as an anchor for (shared) reflection in the online learning environment, including reflection on both content and the online learning process itself. This anchor, coupled with the DEAL framework for critical reflection (Ash & Clayton, 2009), has been utilized as part of an engaging, integral, and powerful opportunity for student discussion and reflection.

About the Author

Chris Cachia is a teacher, workshop facilitator, and learning counsellor focused on anti-oppressive, critical pedagogical, and experiential approaches to education. He has taught a range of social science and sociology courses, including courses in various access and bridging programs. In all of his teaching, he aims to honour students’ lived experiences by engaging in collaborative processes of inquiry. Seeking to both encourage and challenge, Chris’ classes often examine popular cultural products as a way into thinking about issues of identity and power. Besides teaching, Chris also works at as a learning strategist and was formerly an educational developer with the university. He was the inaugural winner of the Faculty of Arts Contract Lecturer Teaching Award at his institution, and he has been involved with a number of community-based projects that reflect his interests in youth programs, social justice, and Hip Hop culture.

Date Created

2023

Pedagogical Category

Interaction

Rights

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Cachia, Christopher J., "Implement “biographical disruption” as an anchor for critical reflection in online learning" (2023). Teaching Online Pedagogical Repository. 26.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/topr/26