Power Knowledge Pedagogy

The essays in this volume explore the educational implications of unsettling shifts in contemporary culture associated with postmodernism. These shifts include the fragmentation of established power blocs, the emergence of a politics of identity, growing inequalities between the haves and the have-nots in a new global economy, and the rise in influence of popular culture in defining who we are. In the academy, postmodernism has been associated with the emergence of new theoretical perspectives that are unsettling the way we think about education. These shifts, the authors suggest, are deeply contradictory and may lead in divergent political directions?some of them quite dangerous. Power/Knowledge/Pedagogy examines these issues with regard to four broad domains of educational inquiry: state educational policy and curriculum reform, student identity formation, the curriculum as a text, and critical pedagogy. The book contributes to the dialogue on the forging of a new commonsense discourse on democratic educational renewal, attuned to the changing times in which we live.

The essays in this volume explore the educational implications of unsettling shifts in contemporary culture associated with postmodernism. These shifts include the fragmentation of established power blocs, the emergence of a politics of identity, growing inequalities between the haves and the have-nots in a new global economy, and the rise in influence of popular culture in defining who we are. In the academy, postmodernism has been associated with the emergence of new theoretical perspectives that are unsettling the way we think about education. These shifts, the authors suggest, are deeply contradictory and may lead in divergent political directions?some of them quite dangerous. Power/Knowledge/Pedagogy examines these issues with regard to four broad domains of educational inquiry: state educational policy and curriculum reform, student identity formation, the curriculum as a text, and critical pedagogy. The book contributes to the dialogue on the forging of a new commonsense discourse on democratic educational renewal, attuned to the changing times in which we live.

Foucault, Power, and Education invites internationally renowned scholar Stephen J. Ball to reflect on the importance and influence of Foucault on his work in educational policy. By focusing on some of the ways Foucault has been placed in relation to educational questions or questions about education, Ball highlights the relationships between Foucault's concepts and methods, and educational research and analysis. An introductory chapter offers a brief explanation of some of Foucault's key concerns, while additional chapters explore ways in which Ball himself has sought to apply Foucault's ideas in addressing contemporary educational issues. In this intensely personal and reflective text, Ball offers an interpretation of his Foucault--That is, his own particular reading of the Foucauldian toolbox. Ideal for courses in education policy and education studies, this valuable teaching resource is essential reading for any education scholar looking for a starting point into the literature and ideas of Foucault.

The essays in this volume explore the educational implications of unsettling shifts in contemporary culture associated with postmodernism. These shifts include the fragmentation of established power blocs, the emergence of a politics of identity, growing inequalities between the haves and the have-nots in a new global economy, and the rise in influence of popular culture in defining who we are. In the academy, postmodernism has been associated with the emergence of new theoretical perspectives that are unsettling the way we think about education. These shifts, the authors suggest, are deeply contradictory and may lead in divergent political directions—some of them quite dangerous. Power/Knowledge/Pedagogy examines these issues with regard to four broad domains of educational inquiry: state educational policy and curriculum reform, student identity formation, the curriculum as a text, and critical pedagogy. The book contributes to the dialogue on the forging of a new commonsense discourse on democratic educational renewal, attuned to the changing times in which we live.

What happens when teachers share power with students? In this profound book, Ira Shor—the inventor of critical pedagogy in the United States—relates the story of an experiment that nearly went out of control. Shor provides the reader with a reenactment of one semester that shows what really can happen when one applies the theory and democratizes the classroom. This is the story of one class in which Shor tried to fully share with his students control of the curriculum and of the classroom. After twenty years of practicing critical teaching, he unexpectedly found himself faced with a student uprising that threatened the very possibility of learning. How Shor resolves these problems, while remaining true to his commitment to power-sharing and radical pedagogy, is the crux of the book. Unconventional in both form and substance, this deeply personal work weaves together student voices and thick descriptions of classroom experience with pedagogical theory to illuminate the power relations that must be negotiated if true learning is to take place.

New technologies are altering the relationship between knowledge, power and learning. This book considers the influence of 'information age' on changing relationship between power and knowledge and how this affects learning in a range of situations, from the school to the learning organization and from the musical conservatoire to the workplace.

The intellectual work of Michel Foucault has been an increasingly central component of social science in recent years. This is the first book to directly address the implication of Foucault's work for the field of education. This text, originally published in 1997, not only provides a critical examination of the significance of Foucauldian thought for education, but also discusses how Foucault’s theories are arrayed in the everyday life of schools.

′[This book] is readable, engaging, informative and provoking′ - Tony Rae, ESCalate ′The book is encompassing all my own passions as a holistic practitioner; I feel it is multi-cultural, offering powerfully diverse and inclusive ideas of pedagogy. In particular, the concepts of this book are like a breath of fresh air for the ′disabled′ student, talking about alternative assessment etc.′ - Helene McArthur, ESCalate `Every now and again you come across a really important book that shifts and clarifies your thinking. The Power of Pedagogy is one of those books. Here you′ll find a fascinating analysis of the myriad of issues and ideas surrounding teaching and learning today. Drawing on history, theory and vignettes form today′s classrooms, these two experienced and active thinkers and practitioners have managed to provide new perspectives on the pedagogic mission. A remarkable piece of scholarship, it′s a ′must′ for all those setting out to teach and for those already teaching with the sort of intellectual curiosity that is the hallmark of the outstanding teacher′ - Tim Brighouse, formerly Adviser for London Schools, is Visiting Professor at the Institute of Education ′This important book manages to combine an illuminating breadth of global reference with real insight into the practice of teaching and learning. Its highly readable investigative narrative integrates theory and practice with a quality of analysis that is both rare and entirely convincing′ - Sir David Winkley, former Headteacher Grove School, Handsworth and government education advisor The concept of ′pedagogy′ has become increasingly important as a frame of reference for debate about teaching and learning. In this book the authors analyse and explore contemporary ideas of pedagogy through the work of key figures including Freire, Montessori and Vygotsky, and explain how a new conception of pedagogy could transform educational institutions, particularly schools. In locating pedagogy as central to the process of education the authors: - explore the historical and cultural antecedents of our understanding of pedagogy - analyse the way understanding of the working of the human mind influences teaching and learning - review and critique ideas about learning and the construction of knowledge - examine the way new forms of communication are impacting on the processes and purposes of pedagogic activity. Highly relevant for masters and doctoral students of education, this book will also be of interest to educational practitioners undertaking research on issues related to pedagogy, both in the UK and internationally. Bob Moon and the late Jenny Leach have written extensively on pedagogy, teacher education and international developments in the field, including Learners and Pedagogies (1999). They lead the Research Group on Teacher Education across Societies and Cultures (RITES) at the Open University, UK. Bob Moon is Professor of Education at the Open University and Director of the Teacher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa (TESSA) Programme. Jenny Leach was Professor of Teacher Learning and Development at the Open University.