The Dialogic Highway Culture Overview is steered by four key principles which guide the culture required for effective classroom talk. These were modelled on Alexander’s (2020) principles of dialogic pedagogy.
- Supportive – all participants feel safe to contribute without fear of embarrassment or being wrong.
- Purposeful – discussions are goal-driven, although a detour from the main highway is part of the journey.
- Reciprocal – participants listen to each other, ask questions and consider alternative routes.
- Cumulative – participants build on each other’s contributions; collaboratively making meaning and developing understanding.
Alexander, R. (2020). A dialogic teaching companion. Routledge.
For teachers who are intending on using this approach, there are four elements of focus in the overview to consider. They are interdependent; one can not function successfully without the others.
The dialogic highway 