Educational Philosophy

 Jeff M. Poulin is a seasoned teacher, facilitator, and educational leader. With over a decade of experience as a dance educator, teaching artist, education researcher, and university lecturer, Jeff has delivered over 300 unique educational experiences ranging from keynote addresses to hands-on workshops, and semester-long courses.

A globalist and social entrepreneur at heart, Jeff believes in combining theory with practice while utilizing creative means and a culturally relevant international perspective to artistically synthesize complex subject matter. His work seeks to integrate a capabilities approach (Nussbaum, 2010) through education, community, and international development outcomes.

As an adult-educator, his work is grounded in critical reflection practices (Schön, 1983; Brookfield 1995), and utilizes an educational futures approach (Dator, 2002; Inayatullah, 1998). Through this work, he believes that students may harness their previous professional experience, and together, analyze practical situations through the lens of theory. As a means of synthesis, learners are encouraged to focus on the future - relating theoretical learning to reality.

As an educator, Jeff believes in the power of aesthetics education (Dewey, 1932) and subscribes to emancipatory educational philosophies utilizing critical pedagogy (Freire, 1970; Giroux, 2011) through a justice-orientation and feminist approach (hooks, 1984). By this combination, learners are encouraged to reflect on the work (theory/practice) with an eye towards democracy and justice.

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