Pedagogies of Proximity

During the pandemic, authors Vintimilla and Pacini-Ketchabaw, alongside an elementary school in Ecuador, initiated the Itinerant school. In this book, they explore the curricular trajectories of nine gardens that created this educational experience. Pedagogy of Proximities presents an innovative response to the challenges of the pandemic by recounting the experience of an itinerant early childhood school in Cuenca, Ecuador, which operated in home gardens as an alternative to online learning. Co-authored by leading scholars in early childhood education, Cristina D. Vintimilla and Veronica Pacini-Ketchabaw, this book examines how the pandemic paradoxically intensified neoliberal educational logics while also creating an opportunity to interrupt those very forces. Blending theory, research, and lived experiences, Pedagogy of Proximities presents a compelling argument for a holistic educational environment, responsiveness to the timeliness of educational events, and the value of pedagogical experimentation. Drawing from a diverse range of literature and cultural contexts, including Andean cosmology, the authors contextualize their work within local traditions and global educational discourse Pedagogy of Proximities is a timely and relevant textbook for educational scholars, graduate students, and educators. Vintimilla and Pacini-Ketchabaw allow us to truly ask the question of what is important in creating an educational experience, as well as how we might let the political and cultural dimensions of our world impact education.