| Clinical pedagogy is a crucial branch of educational research in Japan. Analyzing the development of the Clinical Pedagogy program at Kyoto University, this study reveals that the discipline is anchored in the existential reality of students as individuals, addressing the unique "pathological" processes involved in improving and guiding student behavior. At its core, clinical pedagogy emphasizes the integration of theory and practice, characterized by distinct situationality and pathology while also embodying elements of discovery, individuality, and data-driven inquiry. The establishment of clinical pedagogy as an academic program underscores the role of "human beings" as entities linking theory and reality. From a professional development perspective, it challenges the traditional disconnection between theory and practice in educational research, providing a new foundation and interactive pathway for the practical turn in pedagogy. In the context of the ongoing expansion of educational research, reinforcing the practical orientation of pedagogy, highlighting its clinical essence, integrating new research findings, and establishing a repository of practical cases will facilitate constructive dialogue between theory and practice. |
