SpringerBriefs in Education – serie

This open access book discusses why the seemingly straightforward strategy of teaching children how to think deeply does not work and offers an alternative way forward for the curriculum to achieve these objectives.

This book focuses on the work of Dutch educational philosopher Gert Biesta. It offers a comprehensive exploration of his revolutionary ideas, guiding readers through his critique of contemporary educational thought and his alternative vision for education. By engaging with Biesta's work, we are invited to grapple with fundamental questions about the nature and purpose of education in the twenty-first century. What does it mean to be educated? What is the role of the teacher? How can education contribute to a more democratic society?The book illuminates a different approach to the key question underpinning all of Biesta’s work: what is the purpose of education? It pays particular attention to unpicking the more abstruse areas of his work, in order to make it more accessible to practitioners who are attracted to the general tenor of Biesta’s work but find some of the philosophical discussions hard to digest.This book will be beneficial to researchers, educators, policymakers, or readers interested in the future of education. At the end of it, readers will have been introduced to the key ideas of one of the most original and challenging voices in contemporary educational philosophy, as well as being able to identify exactly what it is that bothers them about modern schools and universities, and how those issues might be addressed.

Focuses on the characterization of adult lifelong learners' Personal Learning Environments by implicit and explicit tools of personalization. In this title, the SSW4LL (Social Semantic Web for Lifelong Learners) format has been devised, and the SSW4LL system, built on Moodle 2.0 integrated with an adaptive mechanism (conditional activities).

?This is an introduction to a Didactique, research program that has been going on in France since the '70s and whose importance is now widely recognized, but whose content is still not easy access to anglophones.

This brief has a twofold motivation. One is to present an organization, Washington Teachers of Teachers of Mathematics (WaToToM) that has become a solid player in the arena of mathematics education in the state of Washington and has aspects that might be of value to people with similar goals in other states. The other is to present a history in grassroots development. WaToToM had its origins 15 years ago as a small gathering whose direction was not clearly defined. From those small roots it has grown not to an enormous organization but to a lively, goal-oriented and highly functional one that has had profound influences on educational policy, curriculum development and teacher preparation.

Italian critical theorist Giorgio Agamben may be best known for his political writings concerning the curtailing of privacy rights in the wake of 9/11 and the status of prisoners of war and refugees. Yet, casting him primarily as a political theorist is misleading given his significant contributions to the fields of linguistics, literary theory, philosophy, aesthetics, and religious studies. This book provides the first ever comprehensive introduction to Agamben’s work as it pertains to the field of education. Written in a clear and accessible style, Giorgio Agamben: Education without Ends is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in thinking education beyond its current standardized forms.The first part of the book creates a context by highlighting formative experiences in Agamben’s biography that reflect a particular idea of education on the threshold between life and work. The second part introduces the notions of infancy, study, community, and happiness, and discusses their relevance with regard to key issues in educational theory and practice. The third part shows how conceptual constellations based on Agamben’s work can inspire studious practices within the spatial, temporal, and curricular infrastructure of educational institutions as they exist today.

This open access book illustrates a new type of formative intervention for in-service teacher training in entrepreneurship education. The book describes a Change Laboratory and shows how teachers and workshop assistants develop the idea of a multidisciplinary project entailing the design of a self-service and parking lot in a dismissed area close to the city centre. The multidisciplinary project is taken as example of how an idea is debated and turned into collective action and change, the very essence of initiative and entrepreneurship. The Change Laboratory thus increases the participation of students, teachers and stakeholders in the school towards a new curriculum through the implementation of a multidisciplinary project connecting school with the world outside and working life.The book features a foreword by Luke Pittaway, USASBE Entrepreneurship Educator of 2018.The manuscript discusses key concepts of Cultural Historical Activity Theory’s Change Laboratory as a formative intervention in a coherent and accessible manner. Beyond that it carefully illustrates how the Change Laboratory and its principles of double stimulation and ascending from the abstract to the concrete can be used as a theory of change to address one of the difficult and new demands of the European Union’s New Skills Agenda.The author takes the reader through the expansive learning journey and uses strong evidence to show how a new object can be developed, and how associated tensions and contradictions can be surfaced and tackled by actors with a partially shared object, and how a new concept can be formed and enriched through implementation and reflection in a manner that generates collective transformative agency. (Reviewer)This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Grant Agreement No. 654101.

This book examines the developments of the UK Higher Education system, from a time of donnish dominion, progressive decline and the increasing role of the market via the introduction of tuition fees. It offers a protracted empirical analysis of the seven new English universities of the 1960s: the Universities of East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Lancaster, Sussex, Warwick and York. It explores the creation of these universities and investigates how they each responded to a number of centrally-imposed initiatives for change in UK higher education that have emerged since their foundation. It discusses changes in system governance and how the Higher Education policies it generated have impacted upon a particular segment of the English university model. Divided into three parts, the book first deals with such topics as the control the University Grants’ Committee exercised in its heyday and how they initiated the launch of new universities. It then examines policy initiatives on governmentcuts on grants, research assessment exercises, quality assurance procedures and student tuition fees. The last part takes a broader approach to change by studying the significance and demise of Mission Groups, a changing system of Higher Education and more general changes regarding the state, the market and governance.

This book analyzes the main Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) used in science education and the main theoretical approaches that support science education mediated by ICT in order to show how digital technologies can be employed in Inquiry-Based Science Education. It presents the results of a comprehensive review of studies focusing both on the use and effects of digital technologies in science education and on the different theoretical approaches that support the use of ICTs in science teaching.By doing so, the book provides a useful summary of the current research in the field and a strong analysis of its limitations. It concludes that there are few studies that report strategies and didactics for the practical use of ICT in science classes and that the use of ICT in science education can’t be seen as an isolated action without a theoretical basis to support it.Based on these conclusions, the volume identifies the main ICTs used in inquiry activities, the mainsteps in inquiry activities used in science education and their approaches to the use of ICT. It shows that the use of ICT in Inquiry-Based Science Education allows students to develop more active work styles, improved attitudes towards science, better conceptual and theoretical understanding, improved reasoning, better modelling capabilities, and improved teamwork, along with improvements in other abilities.Using ICT in Inquiry-Based Science Education will be a valuable resource for science teachers and science teacher educators looking for an introductory text that presents an overview of the scientific research analyzing the implementation of digital technologies in science teaching and that provides useful insights to all educators interested in using digital technologies to introduce their students in the world of scientific inquiry and research.

This is the first-ever book to offer an analytical study of John Holt’s philosophy of education. It provides a clear analysis and critical evaluation of the key themes in his work, considers the main objections to his views, and discusses their relation to the contemporary homeschooling movement. The book examines Holt’s critique of compulsory education and his account of the relationships between learning, freedom, intelligence and character. It argues that Holt’s works contain a philosophically rich critique of instrumentalism in education, and thus continue to represent a significant challenge to many mainstream views on education today. Given its scope, the book will be of interest to anyone who wants to understand Holt’s work and influence as a critic of compulsory schooling; educators and education students; philosophers of education; and those seeking a better grasp of the ideas behind unschooling and homeschooling.

This book engages with the political, philosophical and policy debates around contemporary democratic socialism and state education.

This book addresses the nature of professional learning, paramedic skill development, practice assessment, and feedback from both clinical and educational theory perspectives.

This book proposes a method to evaluate the work of teachers acting in a very specific educational context: graduate programs at higher education institutions. There are many publications on the field of measurement and evaluation of teaching practices, but these studies are usually conducted at the undergraduate level and ignore the nuances of teaching practices at the graduate level.Should professors demonstrate the same skills when they teach in undergraduate programs as they do when they teach in graduate programs? Is it appropriate to use the same assessment tools both at the undergraduate and the graduate levels? Do the teaching practices evolve the same way at the graduate and undergraduate levels? The book intends to answer these questions by introducing a methodological approach to find the relevant variables that are the foundation of professional practices at the graduate level as determined by the scientific community and through the analysis of the stakeholders’ perceptions. The proposed methodological approach combines quantitative and qualitative research techniques to identify and explain, within a mixed-method framework, the most important factors that lead to teaching quality at graduate level. Therefore, How to Evaluate Teaching Practices in Graduate Practices will be a valuable resource for students, university professors and educational administrators interested in quality assurance processes in higher education institutions.

This book gathers some of Hannah Arendt’s core themes and focuses them on the question, ‘What is education for?’ For Arendt, as for Aristotle, education is the means whereby we achieve personal autonomy through the exercise of independent judgement, attain adulthood through the recognition of others as equal but different, gain a sense of citizenship through the assumption of our civic rights and responsibilities, and realize our full potential as sentient beings with the capacity for human ‘flourishing’ and ‘happiness’ (eudaimonia). In order to appreciate the pivotal role that education plays in Arendt’s analysis of the human condition, we have to understand the emphasis she placed on ‘thoughtfulness’, as the measure of our humanity and on ‘thoughtlessness’, as the measure of our inhumanity. Education sustains and develops the human capacity: to think together (phronesis), to think for oneself (what Arendt called ‘the two-in-one’ of thinking), and to think from the point of view of others (what she termed ‘representative thinking’).From the developing constellation of ideas embedded in her vast and varied body of work, the author infers a notion of education as a necessary preparation for personal fulfillment, social engagement, and civic participation.

This book presents a systematic literature review focusing on studies examining teachers’ participation in professional development (PD) within Germany, Austria, and Switzerland since 1990.

How can we understand what a transdisciplinary (TD) approach might actually comprise of, given its complex and various uses?

This Springer brief explores the contribution of Nicolas de Condorcet in French higher education, the historical development of his work and its influence on the history of the French education system.Condorcet's educational proposals were first devised as five Memoires, which were consolidated into the ‘Rapport et Projet de Decret sur l'Organisation Generale de l'Instruction Publique’. This report has sparked debate on the subject of education in the past and lives on as a basis for ongoing iterations of plans for education by other writers.In developing these ideas and especially how they apply to higher education, this book bridges the gap between the 18th century French Enlightenment shift and the Revolution of higher education, with the advent of the Grandes Écoles such as École Normale Supérieure, École Polytechnique and Conservatoire National des Arts et Metiers. Each of these schools was represented by a specific institutionalizededucational idea rooted in the works of the philosopher.This book offers insights to a wider audience in the educational thought of Condorcet, which at the time of his writing was overshadowed by Rousseau, and shows how his ideas of liberty and equality flourish in the French educational system and remain an important part in today's French academic, cultural and political culture.

This open access Springer Brief provides a systematic analysis of current trends and requirements in the areas of knowledge and competence in the context of the project “(A) Higher Education Digital (AHEAD)—International Horizon Scanning / Trend Analysis on Digital Higher Education.” It examines the latest developments in learning theory, didactics, and digital-education technology in connection with an increasingly digitized higher education landscape. In turn, this analysis forms the basis for envisioning higher education in 2030.Here, four learning pathways are developed to provide a glimpse of higher education in 2030: Tamagotchi, a closed ecosystem that is built around individual students who enter the university soon after secondary education; Jenga, in which universities offer a solid foundation of knowledge to build on in later phases; Lego, where the course of study is not a monolithic unit, but consists of individually combined modules of different sizes; and Transformer, where students have already acquired their own professional identities and life experiences, which they integrate into their studies. In addition, innovative practice cases are presented to illustrate each learning path.

We then discuss the prevalence of faculty incivility (FI) and students’ incivility (SI) in academic settings and focus on the dyadic relationships between faculty and students in the broader context of incivility in academia, with an added focus on faculty incivility.The second part introduces the main contributors to academic incivility.

This book presents an innovative theoretical and methodological approach to study information literacy in higher education contexts. While mainstream studies tend to see information literacy as a technical and universal process, this book proposes a theoretical and methodological framework to study information literacy from a sociocultural perspective, highlighting the importance of the social and cultural contexts in which information literacy develops.This situated approach demands that research data must be analysed in relation to the contexts in which they emerge, so the book proposes a research method based on the study of personal histories and stories, learning situations and intersubjective relationships to characterize the different information profiles of different information users. Adopting a multidisciplinary approach that combines contributions from educational research, psychology and information sciences, the authors first present a theoretical discussion to argue in favor of the sociocultural paradigm to study information literacy, then present their methodological proposal to observe informational competencies among higher education students, and finally present the results of an empirical study to identify different information literacy profiles among Latin American students and teachers.Breaking with the hegemonic paradigm in the field, Information Literacy in Higher Education – A Sociocultural Perspective provides useful and innovative tools to researchers working in different areas of the social sciences, such as education, psychology, linguistics and information sciences.

The book presents the multi-faceted opus of Danilo Dolci within the framework of Environmental Education, focusing on his work as a grassroots community educator, nonviolent activist and poet.

This book explores specific aspects of Martin Luther’s ideas on education in general, and on religious education in particular, by comparing them to the views of other great sixteenth-century reformers: Huldrych Zwingli, John Calvin, and Philip Melanchthon.

This book draws on critical race theories and teachers’ testimonials grounded in 20 years of teaching experiences to reveal the ways in which racial and cultural biases are embedded in school curricula, and both their intended and unintended consequences on the learning and well being of students of color.

This book explores why veteran teachers choose to remain in the classroom, making teaching their life’s career.  The authors felt compelled to interview veteran teachers to learn about their experiences, how they make meaning of their classrooms and schools, and in particular what can be known about the adversities they face and their resilience. Factors (individual and contextual) are uncovered that influence veteran teacher’s resiliency and adaptation from veteran teachers’ perspectives and the literature. Induction programs, professional development, and mentoring are also examined for their importance to the interviews and education.Features of this book include:Focuses on veteran teacher resilience and why veteran teachers choose to remain in the classroom and teaching professionUses an interview method involving veteran teachers that illuminates issues of resiliency and retention from their perspectiveHighlights 15 narrative accounts of veteran teachers tailored to their perceptions, experiences, and strategies for navigating barriers and overcoming challengeCombines conceptual frameworks, research results, interventions, and strategiesConnects implications of the study and suggestions for future research to practice and policy This book is for researchers interested in teacher resilience, particularly veteran teacher resilience and the study and development of it, as well as practitioners  drawn to the same topic, with applicability to their fields. Anyone interested in resilience, particularly within demanding professional contexts and stressful situations, should find value."The focus on teacher resilience is original and it is an important aspect of why teachers might choose to stay in the profession.  Teacher resilience is understudied and should provide useful knowledge to policymakers and education leaders on how to improve working conditions and increase efficacy. So much ink is spilled extolling why teachers exit the profession--there is a dearth of research on why they stay, which in my opinion is even more important than why they leave. This book makes an important contribution to the literature and will hopefully inform policy making and inspire others to conduct research on the subject."   Christopher H. Tienken, Associate Professor, Dept. of Education Leadership Management and Policy, Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ, USA "The topic is original. It seems there is much literature on new teachers and why they leave, but little on veteran teachers and why they stay. The topic and the reporting of the findings with suggestions for practices to be implemented in university programs as well as in K-12 schools is very useful. The format this book follows is actually a strong one for other researchers and students in doctoral programs." Sandra Harris, Professor Emerita, Educational Leadership, Lamar University, Beaumont, Texas, USA

This book presents the educational view and practice of the Polish-Jewish doctor, writer and pedagogue Janusz Korczak (Warsaw 1878–Treblinka 1942). In the authors' reconstruction five core elements stand out: respect for every child; participation; justice; dialogue as expression and communication; self-awareness and reflection on the part of the educator.These elements do not constitute a well-rounded theory or philosophy, but are part of many stories of living together with children, in Korczak’s case orphans. Korczak, actively involving the children themselves, organized this life in such a way that justice ruled. He is the pedagogue of narrativity and of democratic upbringing. Korczak explored many, and today still challenging ways of participative education.The book shows that besides the now domineering positivist outlook on education, with its technocratic language and stress on output, standards, testing, etc., another language is possible, one that is more practice-based and that teachers will relate to immediately: love for children, a pedagogical ethos, and seeking ways to live together in a just way.

This book is written for teacher educators who are looking for strategies to teach a foreign or second language in a more meaningful way whilst applying active methodologies to develop critical thinking skills.

This book proposes a philosophical exploration of the educational role that media plays in university study practices, with a focus on the practices of lecturing and academic writing.

This book is a rich, yet highly accessible volume that details an exciting and much-needed inquiry into the notion of literacy: what it is, why it is, and how it might be framed most effectively for 21st century education. The chapters unfold in a creative interplay of practice and theory. Narey’s insightful questioning into the socio-historical-cultural implications of “literacy as empowerment” establishes the critical context, while Kerry-Moran’s examination of the burgeoning literacy landscape reveals challenges for teacher education. Drawing upon classic and cutting-edge theories, Narey builds a provocative and powerful case for a 21st century construct of literacy as sense-making: sense as relative to the senses (i.e., sight, hearing) and sense as making meaning. Her innovative model of the literacy event opens up a range of potential foci for analysis and facilitates her teasing out of two critical areas for instruction: sensory perception and aesthetic knowledge. This theoretical sense-making lens is applied to Kerry-Moran’s teacher education classroom as the authors reflect upon further development. As a timely original and thought-provoking work, this slim volume of big ideas promises to be a valuable resource for teacher educators and other scholars who seek a clear and cohesive frame for literacy in 21st century education.This is a very well written scholarly text that provides a new and important theory of 21st century literacy. Narey’s sketches of literacy as sense-making are laid out in logical form, building upon researched and referenced sources to ground her ideas and offering the reader information, examples and new insights. In addition to providing many significant perspectives underpinning her new theory, Narey provides excellent historical and current explanations about literacy from highly respected researchers in the field. The inclusion of a practical application of Narey’s conceptual/theoretical framework to Kerry-Moran's example of an instructional unit in a teacher education course is helpful to understanding the theory in practice. The references throughout the work are extensive, comprehensive and very well documented. This text, Sense-making: Problematizing Constructs of Literacy for 21st Century Education, contributes original thinking to the field of literacy and learning and would be an excellent resource for literacy and language professors or instructors in a post-graduate or professional development program.Penny Silvers, Professor of Education, Dominican University, USA

This book addresses Problem-based Learning (PBL) in elementary schools and reveals how this can promote elementary students’ development in critical thinking, creativity, communication, collaboration, and citizenship, also known as the 5 Cs.