WANDS OR QUILLS?

LESSONS IN
PEDAGOGY FROM
HARRY POTTER

Melissa Johnson
Virginia Commonwealth University
“HARRY POTTER AND THE
EXTRAORDINARINESS OF THE ORDINARY” RONI
NATOV

“The real world, then, becomes somewhat

illuminated by these characters who can
span both worlds. For example, teachers at
Hogwarts can be imaginative and
compassionate; they are also flighty,
vindictive, dim-witted, indulgent, lazy,
frightened and frightening. Students are
clever, kind, weak, cruel, snobbish. Lessons
are inspiring and tedious--as in the best and
worst of real schools” (317).
WHO IS THE WORST TEACHER IN
THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS? WHY?
 Professor Binns—History of Magic
 Sybill Trelawney--Divination
 Professor Quirrell—DADA
 Firenze--Divination
 Gilderoy Lockhart—DADA
 Dolores Umbridge—DADA and Headmistress
 Rubeus Hagrid—Care of Magical Creatures
 Severus Snape—Potions and DADA
 Horace Slughorn—Potions
 Mad Eye Moody/Barty Crouch—DADA
BINNS
“Professor Binns opened his notes and began to
read in a flat drone like an old vacuum
cleaner until nearly everyone in the class was
in a deep stupor, occasionally coming to long
enough to copy down a name or a date, then
falling asleep again” (CS 148).
LOCKHART
TRELAWNEY
MOODY/CROUCH
“'What – what are you doing?' said Professor McGonagall, her
eyes following the bouncing ferret's progress through the air.
'Teaching,' said Moody.
'Teach– Moody, is that a student?' shrieked Professor
McGonagall, the books spilling out of her arms.
'Yep,' said Moody.
'No!' cried Professor McGonagall, running down the stairs and
pulling out her wand; a moment later, with a loud snapping
noise, Draco Malfoy had reappeared, lying in a heap on the
floor…
'Moody, we never use Transfiguration as a punishment!' said
Professor McGonagall weakly. 'Surely Professor Dumbledore
told you that?'
'He might've mentioned it, yeah,' said Moody, scratching his
chin unconcernedly, 'but I thought a good sharp shock –'
'We give detentions, Moody! Or speak to the offender's Head
of house!‘” (GF 13)
WHAT ARE INDICATORS OF BAD
TEACHING?
 Students feel threatened or endangered?
 Rote learning and/or passive learning?
 Learning and performance are competitive?
 Teacher is dishonest, dangerous, homicidal,
vain, motivated by greed, ego etc.?
 Playing favorites?
 Being unfair?
 Lack of student success?
 Incompetence?
 Lack of retention?
WHO IS THE BEST TEACHER IN
THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS?
 Remus Lupin--DADA
 Pomona Sprout—Herbology
 Albus Dumbledore
 Harry Potter—DADA
 Mad-Eye Moody (Barty Crouch)—DADA
 Minerva McGonagall--Transfiguration
 Severus Snape--DADA
 Snape to Lupin: "Possibly no one's
warned you, Lupin, but this class
contains Neville Longbottom. I
would advise you not to entrust
him with anything difficult. Not
unless Miss Granger is hissing
instructions in his ear." [...]
Professor Lupin raised his
eyebrows.
"I was hoping that Neville would
assist me with the first stage of
the operation, he said, and I am
sure he will perform admirably"
(PA 7).
"I feel that if a single pupil wants to come,
then the school ought to remain open for
that pupil" (HBP 29).
“’You cannot pass an OWL,' said Professor
McGonagall grimly, 'without serious
application, practice and study. I see no
reasons why everybody in this class
should not achieve an OWL in
Transfiguration as long as they put in the
work.'
Neville made a sad little disbelieving
noise. 'Yes, you too, Longbottom,' said
Professor McGonagall. 'There's nothing
wrong with your work except lack of
confidence’”(OP 13).
 WHAT ARE OUR STANDARDS
FOR GOOD TEACHING?
 Popular with students? Inspirational?
 High Standards?
 Exclusive or Democratic?
 Life skills or “academic” skills?
 Sage on the Stage? Or Guide on the Side?
 Individual or collaborative learning?
 Learner or learning-centered or content-centered?
 Student success?
 Measured how? OWLS? NEWTS? Survival?
 Experiential or hands-on or active learning?
 Significant/Transformative?
 Engages students in Critical Thinking?
 Engages students in Problem Solving?
WHO IS THE BEST STUDENT IN
THE HARRY POTTER BOOKS? WHY?
 Hermione Granger
 Harry Potter
 Neville Longbottom
 Luna Lovegood
 Percy Weasley
 Tom Riddle
HOW MIGHT WE USE HARRY
POTTER TO IMPROVE OUR
OWN TEACHING?
SOME HYPOTHESES ABOUT TEACHING AND LEARNING
IN HP AND BEYOND
 Students learn more outside of the classroom
than in it.
 But, students apply classroom lessons outside
of the classroom to reach their goals.
 Students accomplish more through
collaboration than through competition.
 Students have to take risks in order to learn.
 The best teachers provide a “safety net” for
risk taking both inside and outside of the
classroom.
 Most students learn better through active,
experiential, hands-on learning than
through listening or reading alone.
 Student learning can be impeded by fear
and anxiety.
 Students are more motivated to learn if
they see the relevance of what is being
taught to their own goals and experience.
 Students develop skills through practice
and repetition.
 Good teachers believe all students can
learn.
WORK CITED
Natov, Roni. "Harry Potter and the
Extraordinariness of the Ordinary." The Lion
and the Unicorn 25.2 (2001):310-327.
Project Muse. Web. 1 October 2011.