Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a pedagogical approach rooted in philosophy and psychology, developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva in the late 1980s to foster positive change within organizations. It relies on the idea that people respond more favorably when their strengths are acknowledged rather than their shortcomings.
The philosophy behind AI is rooted in the works of social constructionist theorists such as Kenneth Gergen, who emphasize the significance of language and narrative in shaping our perceptions of our environment. AI operates under the assumption that by asking positive, strengths-based questions we can foster a more productive learning atmosphere.
This resonated with my own practice, as AI has been adopted into a specific research method within User Experience Design practice. This involves using AI principles to identify what works well in a user’s experience rather than simply fixing what needs fixing. By focusing on the strengths of an individual’s journey, designers can pinpoint and replicate those elements contributing to a positive one.
It’s clear that this specific UX research method draws upon the principles of Cooperrider’s and Srivastva’s appreciative inquiry model, so it was interesting to me to notice that there is intersection between my teaching practice and pedagogical learning.
Overall, AI is a powerful tool that can be employed in many pedagogical contexts to promote positive change and create more productive and engaging learning environments. With its roots in philosophy and psychology, it offers educators an unique and valuable approach for effecting positive transformation in their classrooms.
Bibliography:
Cooperrider, D. and Srivastva, S. (1987) Appreciative Inquiry in Organizational Life Research in Organizational Change and Development.
Cooperrider, D, Whitney, D, Stavros, J. (2008) Appreciative Inquiry Handbook. Ohio: Crown Custom Publishing.
Involve (2018) Appreciative Inquiry, Involve.org.uk. Available at: https://involve.org.uk/resources/methods/appreciative-inquiry (Accessed: 3 March 2023).
Giles, D and Kung, S (2009) Using Appreciative Inquiry to explore the professional practice of a lecturer in higher education: Moving towards life-centric practice.