was a panel led by Richard Freeman and David Laws at the IPA conference in Tilburg…
The turn to practice represents an exciting new agenda for policy research that stands many conventions on their heads. But how might it impact on our teaching? This seminar will organize a reflection on enduring problems in teaching social and public policy and explore the different ways that ‘practice’ might reinvigorate our pedagogy. We want to identify the different topics that might comprise the ‘practice curriculum’, but also suggest that a practice perspective might entail rethinking standard approaches to teaching and learning. We will consider the variety of purposes and demands evoked by the effort to teach ‘practice’ to experienced policy makers and practitioners, as well as to university students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level. We discuss the material resources that teaching practice requires, including issues raised in the production and presentation of case studies. We consider both traditional and innovative, peer-based learning and assessment, and think about the different implications of face-to-face and distance learning. We will begin by reflecting on our own experience to provide the kernel for an open discussion of participants’ experiences and insights. The conversation will be organized to allow students, researchers, academics, and others at all career stages to participate and contribute.