School of Human Development header
School of Human Development
Prof Vanessa Andreotti Critical Literacy Educator visits IoE

Prof Vanessa Andreotti Critical Literacy Educator visits IoE

On Thursday Nov 30th, IoE and the School of Human Development were delighted to host an event with Prof Vanessa Andreotti who holds the Canada Research Chair in Race, Inequalities and Global Change at University of British Columbia Vancouver. Prof Andreotti is an internationally renowned critical literacy and emancipatory post-colonial scholar and activist. She presented some of her work on Earthcare, sustainability and global justice through a radical critical approach, unpacking assumptions around education, development and identities. She challenged us as educators to constantly question what and how we are teaching and to make visible the power relations that reproduce inequality. Through her powerful use of metaphor she assisted the audience/participants to engage with her work and the process of problematizing our world in a manner that was fresh and creative, moving us to ‘get real’ and to take action. Dr Audrey Bryan of the School of Human Development acted as respondent to Prof Andreotti and gave a most engaging personal account of how Prof Andreotti’s work has been significant for her as an academic and as a critical educator. The session was chaired by Dr Maeve O’Brien, Head of School of Human Development. Researchers, students, teachers and members of NGOs took part in a robust dialogue following the presentations. “Inspiring” was the word on everyone’s lips.