ABSTRACT

There is a growing demand for educational professionals to develop a more critical understanding of the key and emerging debates in education so that they can better meet the challenges and demands placed upon them. Exploring Education at Postgraduate Level represents a range of perspectives from educational experts to academic researchers, and highlights the key issues surrounding contemporary education.

Organised into three parts and drawing on key issues in education theory, policy and practice, the book considers areas such as SEN, evaluating learning, ESOL and gender. Featuring reflective questions, case studies and summaries of core ideas, the chapters include:

  • Troublesome learning journey;
  • Applying educational thinkers to contemporary educational practice;
  • Values production through social and emotional learning;
  • Policy research: In defence ad hocery?;
  • We are all critically reflective now: The politics of critical reflection in higher education and in the work place;
  • Developing critical thought about SEN;
  • The refuge of relativism.

Aimed at supporting students on Masters-level courses, this acessible but critically provocative text is an essential resource for those wishing to develop a more critical understanding of the role, purpose and function of educational systems and practices.

part |21 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|9 pages

Troublesome learning journey

chapter 2|11 pages

Is everyone a Socrates now?

A critical look at critical thinking

part I|55 pages

Theory

chapter 4|9 pages

The application of psychological principles within education

Appliance of science or pick-n-mix?

chapter 5|8 pages

Gender: stories and lies

Debunking myth and determining reality

chapter 7|8 pages

The curriculum

Anyone can teach a dog to whistle

part II|71 pages

Policy

chapter 9|7 pages

Policy research

In defence of ad hocery?

chapter 10|10 pages

Education and social class

Examining the fuzziness of choice and belonging

chapter 11|9 pages

A snapshot of contemporary education discourse

The Pupil Premium policy

chapter 12|9 pages

Meeting the needs of ESOL and EAL learners

A critical discussion of policy

chapter 13|7 pages

Where care and education meet?

Social pedagogy in England and the policy of integration

chapter 15|11 pages

Why bother with masterliness?

chapter 16|9 pages

Accountability

part III|57 pages

Practice

chapter 17|11 pages

We are all critically reflective now

The politics of critical reflection in higher education and in the workplace

chapter 18|6 pages

Children's places

chapter 19|9 pages

Behaviour in schools

Is it as bad as they say – or is it worse?

chapter 20|8 pages

Developing critical thought about SEN

A complementary approach

chapter 21|7 pages

Educational leadership

Developing insight into practice

chapter 23|3 pages

Conclusion

Education – what's the point?