Peer Review

Cult of Pedagogy

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Aug 23, 2021 by Teacher Education

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

This site features a collection of blog entries, podcasts, and videos that target information helpful to the U.S. classroom teacher. There is also a store that has a collection of teaching materials and some online courses.

The site is self-described as a vibrant, encouraging, stimulating community of teachers, supporting each other toward excellence.They believe if they can reach across the limits of geography and find each other, there’s no limit to the amazing things we can accomplish.

Type of Material:

Collection of resources - blog posts, podcasts, links to youtube collection of videos

Recommended Uses:

self-paced, individual, independent study

Technical Requirements:

Internet access, ability to listen to podcasts, and view videos

Identify Major Learning Goals:

The Cult of Pedagogy site is committed to helping and supporting classroom teachers by providing articles, podcasts, videos, and materials. The material is detailed in terms of content, multimedia and well-written prose but most do not include specific learning goals on each page/section.

Target Student Population:

Professional, adults who teach anything

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

An interest in quality teaching would be helpful

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

The site maintains high quality in the blog posts, podcasts, and videos. The vast collection of content is informative and not presented a rigid academic manner. The content, geared specifically for the educator, presents valid educational concepts and supports individual professional development and can be accessed as needed. The content is designed for individual use and can certainly enhance any accredited course or program.

High quality throughout - not many academic references but engagement with academic materials is evident.

There is a very US centric slant to materials so not immediately applicable to the UK context for example.

Materials are completed to a high standard with no spelling mistakes seen.

Transcripts of podcasts are provided.

Concerns:

US centric, so be aware of cultures that are prevalent in America.

Vodcasts are just a recorded to camera piece with little extra provided.

The American accent could be seen as a barrier, although it's hard to offset this.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:
Strengths:: The wealth of content is divided into three main areas--blog posts (short articles), podcasts, and videos. The blog posts are catergorized by The Craft (instruction, classroom management, and technology), Go Deep (learning theory, leadership, career & PD, book reviews, and hot topics), and the Teaching Soul (attitude adjustments, working together, inspiration, and stories). The podcasts cover such topics as attitude adjustments, book reviews, career & profssional development, classroom management, hot topics, inspiration, and instruction. Videos can be found addressing instruction, classroom management, educational technology, and advice for teachers. The content can be used as needed by the user no matter the category or specific topic.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

The Cult of Pedagogy has a clean, intuitive, responsive website design. A menu of key links for starting out with the site, information about the site, blog, podcast, videos, store, and search slot can all be found in the top right corner. Links for Contact information, FAQs, and sharing on Twitter, Facebook, Pintrest, Youtube, and LinkedIn are at the bottom of each page. Content is clearly labeled. The site is current and updated often. Works effectively on mobile phone.

Concerns:

Some videos "set to private" e.g. Google Lens https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/6-ed-tech-tools-to-try-in-2021/

Other Issues and Comments:

Overall a useful site, which would be enhanced with a vision statement making it clear what a user would be accessing through the website and how it is useful.

No evidence of when the site was last updated although the comments indicate it is regularly used, based on when the comments have been time-stamped and the author has engaged in the responses.

Creative Commons: