Nerida Spina – författare

Data Culture and the Organisation of Teachers’ Work provides an in-depth look at how the political and media scrutiny of teachers, pupils and schools now organises teaching and learning. Spina also examines how educational data is used in schools, and where it fails to take account of the everyday experiences of school leaders, teachers and students.Drawing on primary research, and discussing practice in relation to the National Assessment Programme: Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), this book discusses the strengths and weaknesses of a data-driven approach, the restrictions this can impose and how to navigate them as a teacher.Ideal for scholars and postgraduate students of education, this book provides a comprehensive institutional, ethnographic look into the daily lived experiences of teachers, and the effects of standardised testing.

Data Culture and the Organisation of Teachers’ Work provides an in-depth look at how the political and media scrutiny of teachers, pupils and schools now organises teaching and learning. Spina also examines how educational data is used in schools, and where it fails to take account of the everyday experiences of school leaders, teachers and students.Drawing on primary research, and discussing practice in relation to the National Assessment Programme: Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), this book discusses the strengths and weaknesses of a data-driven approach, the restrictions this can impose and how to navigate them as a teacher.Ideal for scholars and postgraduate students of education, this book provides a comprehensive institutional, ethnographic look into the daily lived experiences of teachers, and the effects of standardised testing.

Making Sense of Mass Education provides a contemporary analysis of the ideas and issues that have traditionally dominated education research, challenging outdated preconceptions with fundamental theory and discussion. It takes a demythologising approach in assessing these issues and their relevance to schooling and education in Australia. This text examines the cultural context of education and the influence of external media and new technologies, and highlights the many forms of discrimination in education, including social class, race and gender. It looks at alternative approaches to education, including the repercussions of gathering data to measure school performance, and considers the intersection of ethics and philosophy in classroom teaching. The fourth edition expands on these issues with three new chapters: on sexuality, children's rights, and neoliberalism and the marketisation of education. Each chapter challenges and breaks down common myths surrounding these topics, encouraging pre-service teachers to think critically and reflect on their own beliefs.

Making Sense of Mass Education gives a comprehensive overview of the cultural contexts of education, addressing and debunking important myths in the field. This book is an approachable text for undergraduate and postgraduate readers studying the Sociology and Philosophy of Education. The text covers the rise of mass schooling as a disciplinary institution, including the governance of subjectivity and the regulation of childhood and youth. It examines cultural forces on the field of education and addresses the influence of philosophical thought. In the landscape of mass education, change is constant. New topics covered in the fifth edition include education policy, teachers' work, place, online spaces and artificial intelligence. Each chapter features margin definitions and boxes exploring a range of myths, encouraging teachers to think critically. Making Sense of Mass Education continues to be pertinent for pre-service and practising teachers in Australian contexts.

This book examines a range of ethical complexities associated with precarious work across educational sectors internationally.Our aim is to examine the experiences of the increasing reliance on casual and temporary employment in education settings for all educators. This volume brings together academic chapters, focused on the affective, ethical, and practical challenges faced by all educators working in highly casualised contexts, while working to provide quality education for all students. These chapters are complemented by reflections from a variety of educators and educational leaders who have navigated ethical dilemmas related to precarious employment across sectors from early childhood to higher education.When viewed together, the chapters and reflections highlight the impacts of neoliberal market-driven policies on the education sector and work to present a series of possible ‘pathways forward’ for education workers navigating this precarious terrain.

This book examines a range of ethical complexities associated with precarious work across educational sectors internationally.Our aim is to examine the experiences of the increasing reliance on casual and temporary employment in education settings for all educators. This volume brings together academic chapters, focused on the affective, ethical, and practical challenges faced by all educators working in highly casualised contexts, while working to provide quality education for all students. These chapters are complemented by reflections from a variety of educators and educational leaders who have navigated ethical dilemmas related to precarious employment across sectors from early childhood to higher education.When viewed together, the chapters and reflections highlight the impacts of neoliberal market-driven policies on the education sector and work to present a series of possible ‘pathways forward’ for education workers navigating this precarious terrain.

‘Making It’ as a Contract Researcher examines the contemporary experience of research employment in universities from the perspective of a significant yet often invisible group: temporary or contract researchers, who make up a substantial, and ever-growing, proportion of the academic research workforce. A critical, pragmatic and international account of the contemporary research career, this book explores the question of what it means to ‘make it’ as a contract researcher in academia, and how individuals and organisations in higher education might seek to do things differently.Providing the reader with practical and realistic strategies for improving the experience of being a contract researcher and achieving and sustaining an academic research career, this book guides the reader on a range of topics, including: Charging fairly for your work Building a publication track record Finding the next contract Sustaining your network Feeling like you belong Moving beyond contract research.Using a combination of current research, interviews and reflective writing, the book is written specifically for and by contract researchers in academia, offering unique and extremely valuable advice for all new and current contract researchers, including PhD students, early career researchers, and any party interested in pursuing a research career in academia. The ‘Insider Guides to Success in Academia’ offers support and practical advice to doctoral students and early-career researchers. Covering the topics that really matter, but which often get overlooked, this indispensable series provides practical and realistic guidance to address many of the needs and challenges of trying to operate, and remain, in academia.These neat pocket guides fill specific and significant gaps in current literature. Each book offers insider perspectives on the often implicit rules of the game – the things you need to know but usually aren’t told by institutional postgraduate support, researcher development units, or supervisors – and will address a practical topic that is key to career progression. They are essential reading for doctoral students, early-career researchers, supervisors, mentors, or anyone looking to launch or maintain their career in academia.