GED0901

Advanced studies in educational research and practice

Dr G Tsolidis

12 points
* 3 hours per week
* Full-year subject
* Clayton

Objectives Upon successful completion of this subject, students should be able to understand major research orientations relevant to educational practice; apply these research orientations through the consideration of aspects of practice significant within the field of education; familiarise themselves with current professional debates and theoretical orientations in the field as these relate to relevant epistemological issues; consider understandings of relevant issues as these are current within the profession and juxtapose these to analyses offered through the research literature; explore the theoretical framings appropriate to the students' own individual research endeavours.

Synopsis This subject is a compulsory, year-long, core subject for all beginning EdD students. However, each half can also be taken as a semester-long elective subject by EdD students who commenced before 1997. The subject will provide students with opportunities to acquire an advanced understanding of the significant research orientations within the field of education. Students will explore these research orientations as they apply to specific topics, all of which are priority issues within the education profession. These topics, and the research orientations which will be explored through them, will be presented as a series of eight modules. Each module will include a lecture to be given by a member of the educational profession. Together these lectures will form a public lecture series. Thus, students will have the opportunity to juxtapose perspectives as these are developed within the profession with theoretical analyses of these as they are developing within educational research. By enabling students to explore various research orientations through issues central to professional practice, this subject will provide them with a comprehensive framework within which to develop and consolidate their specialist research program. The subject complements the work done through further elective subjects and thesis preparation and completion.

Assessment Two major research essays (6500 words each): 60%
* Six minor essays (1500 words each): 40%

Recommended texts

Baird J R and Northfield J R (eds) Learning from the PEEL experience Monash University, Faculty of Education, 1992
de Wit H (ed.) Strategies for the internationalisation of education OECD, 1996
Evers C W and Lakomski G Exploring educational administration Pergamon, 1996
Grundy S Curriculum: Product or praxis Falmer, 1987
Hargraves A and Goodson I Teachers' professional lives Falmer, 1996
Luke A `Text and discourse in education: An introduction to critical discourse analysis' in Apple M W (ed.) Review of research in education AERA, 1995
Luke C and Gore J (eds) Feminisms and critical pedagogy Routledge, 1992
Marginson S Education and public policy CUP, 1993
Shulman L S `Knowledge and teaching: Foundations of the new reform' in Harvard Educational Review 57:1, 1987
Weiner G Feminisms in education: An introduction Open U P, 1994