Dialogical participation at the university: a condition for the development of critical thinking and social commitment

Abstract

Over a century ago the criticism of traditional schools highlighted the importance of active learning. Likewise, later on, constructivism and sociocultural psychology evidenced the relevant role of the students’ activity in their learning processes. Last, other theoretical frameworks such as sociology, linguistics, critical pedagogy, etc., have insisted on the need to involve the students in their own educational processes. Along these lines, the contributions of Habermas and Freire have had important repercussions on teaching practices, where dialogical aspects are transformed into an essential feature and component of the processes to build knowledge, the individual and society. The present article addresses the dialogical participation of university students assuming the clear commitment of the university in the education of critical professionals committed to society and the world in which we live.