1st Edition
Representations of the Academic Challenging Assumptions in Higher Education
This thoughtful volume challenges widely accepted, traditionalist scientific notions of ‘the academic’ – prevalent in higher education institutions globally – in order to promote best practice, and redefine the field as accessible, inclusive and forward thinking.
This book situates itself away from the dominant discourse on academia and eschews the common tropes that have proved prohibitive to furthering the field and research within. By releasing ‘the academic’ from the restrictive, narrow boundaries typically imposed, Representations of the Academic opens up a form of public sphere where the contributors bring together their innovative views to propose a new normative form. Chapters explore examples of good practice that demonstrate alternative ways of thinking and, in doing so, the book continues an emergent tradition of investigating the origins, nature and purposes of academic work at a time when critical values are under threat.
The book will be of interest to students, academics and researchers in the fields of education, educational research and higher and professional education more broadly. Those involved with interdisciplinary and intercultural studies, ethics and values in research will also benefit from this volume.
1. Introduction Jean McNiff 2. Gamification of personal learning trajectories Camilla Gyldendahl-Jensen 3. Unruly thought: Valuing and supporting academics who manage mental health issues Welby Ings 4. Whose knowledge counts? The academic, academic knowledge and epistemic justice Margaret Meredith 5. Encouraging teachers and learning support assistants (LSAs) to see themselves as researchers Catherine McPartland 6. Truth in a time of untruth: The academic as public educator Jon Nixon 7. Cross-cultural doctoral PhD-supervision as transformative academic practice Sigrid Gjøtterud and Athman Kyaruzi Ahmad 8. Wrighting an academic life as a practitioner researcher: Constructing knowledge on the home front, at the university, throughout the Americas, and in our global community Joseph M. Shosh 9. The cut: Women and the practice of female genital mutilation in Kuria, Kenya Boke Joyce Wambura 10. Developing teacher professionalism in an era of neo-liberalism Hilde Hiim 11. Total nursing: Reclaiming nursing for the patient Peter McDonnell 12. Developing new research networks in Latvia Linda Pavītola and Lāsma Latsone 13. Afterword Jean McNiff
Biography
Jean McNiff is Professor Emerita of Educational Research at York St John University, UK.
