pedagogy

noun

ped·​a·​go·​gy ˈpe-də-ˌgō-jē 

 also  -ˌgä-,

especially British

-ˌgä-gē 

: the art, science, or profession of teaching

especially : education sense 2

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Pedagogical, Pedagogy, and Pedagogue

Pedagogical and its cognates present us with an excellent example of how different words can come from the same root, retain closely related meanings, and yet take on distinctive connotations. Pedagogical, pedagogy, and pedagogue all come from the Greek paidagōgos, originally the word for an enslaved person who brought children to school. But while pedagogical and pedagogy have meanings simply related to education, teaching, or teachers (with no implied judgment), pedagogue has taken on a negative tone, often referring to a dull or overly formal teacher. A similar transformation has taken place with many of the pedant- words in English. Pedant originally denoted simply "a tutor," but now tends to mean "one who makes a show of knowledge." Pedantic formerly meant "relating to teaching," but now is more commonly used to mean "unimaginative or dull."

Examples of pedagogy in a Sentence

Some of the presentations, a few too many for comfort, lapsed into the familiar contortions of modern pedagogy. —Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 & 21 July 2003

The idea that pedagogy should be judged according to race is absurd on its face, but the fact that they saw their relationship with me and with the school itself in those terms should have given me greater pause than it did. —Gerald Early, Lure and Loathing, 1993

Since no textbooks existed, the professor refused to profess, knowing no more than his students, and the students read what they pleased and compared their results. As pedagogy, nothing could be more triumphant. —Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907

Recent Examples on the Web

Building flexible classrooms gives the building a lifespan beyond one class or even one era of pedagogy, which, as Fertig elucidates, are sure to evolve. —Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2024

To be sure, many universities have some type of center for teaching excellence established to provide resources to faculty to build on their teaching methods and pedagogy. —Nicholas Ladany, Forbes, 24 Sep. 2024

How this has been achieved is at the core of these companion exhibitions that examine the use of art as a tool for social reform at Hull-House Settlement from 1889 to 1935 and the innovative art pedagogy taught in Chicago K-12 schools since the mid-’60s. —Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 6 Sep. 2024

Graduate Programs Hamilton Lugar School graduate programs include dozens of options in area studies, language pedagogy, and dual degree programs are offered in partnership with professional schools at Indiana University, including the Kelley School of Business. —Foreign Affairs, 10 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier, "instruction, training," borrowed from New Latin paedagōgia, borrowed from Greek paidagōgía "escorting of a child to school, attendance, guidance, schooling, education, training," from paidagōgós "attendant on a child, tutor" + -ia -y entry 2 — more at pedagogue

First Known Use

circa 1623, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pedagogy

noun

ped·​a·​go·​gy ˈped-ə-ˌgōj-ē 

also

-ˌgäj-ˌē 

: the art, science, or profession of teaching : education

pedagogical

-i-kəl

adjective

pedagogically

-i-k(ə-)lē

adverb