postmodernismn
also postpositivism
a term that has significantly different meanings in architecture, literary
criticism, anthropology, and other disciplines. In education, the term generally
refers to a rejection of positivismand modernism, which are criticized for
failing to recognize the cultural relativity of all forms of knowledge, for
emphasizing the importance of the autonomous individual, and for failing
to take a moral stand against oppression. In this view, “science” is usually
interested (not disinterested) and never objective. With respect to approaches
to research and theory, postmodernists are sceptical of general theories and
attempts to generalize research findings.
postmodifier n
see modifier
post-observation conference
in teacher training, an informal meeting between a teacher-supervisor and
a teacher or trainee teacher following observation of a teacher’s lesson.
During the conference the strengths and weakness of the lesson are normally
discussed and the supervisor uses a variety of strategies to help the teacher
develop a reflective stance towards his or her teaching.
postponed subjectn
see extraposition
postpositionn
a word or morphemewhich follows a noun or noun phrase^1 and indicates
location, direction, possession, etc. For example, in Japanese:
Tokyo – kara
“Tokyo” “from”
“from Tokyo”
English prefers prepositions to postpositions, but a word like notwith-
standing can be used in either way:
The plan went ahead, notwithstandingmy protests.
(prepositional use)
The plan went ahead, my protests notwithstanding.
(postpositional use)
postpositivismn
see postmodernism
postmodernism