Content
Academic examines social justice in education
27 March, 2006
University of the Sunshine Coast academic, Dr Jennifer Nayler, has launched a new book on education - Pedagogies-Storylines and Storyspaces.
For Dr Nayler, senior lecturer in education and program manager for the new Graduate Certificate in Professional Learning program at USC, the book is the result of doctoral study undertaken at the University of Southern Queensland.
Following a series of forums held on the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, Dr Nayler interviewed 13 teachers about what is means to practise socially-just pedagogies.
"The word pedagogy does confuse some people - basically we're talking about teaching strategies," said Dr Nayler.
From this research, Dr Nayler developed narratives from four teachers to form the basis of her book, but it's more than just a collection of teaching narratives.
"This text also explores the methodology and theoretical frame used in the research and how we might better understand pedagogy, especially if we want to explore socially-just pedagogy," Dr Nayler said.
The four teachers presented in the book included two middle years teachers, one early phase and one senior phase teacher, and they all share one concern.
"They want to teach in ways that serve the range of students in their classes so that the learning outcomes of those students can be enhanced, as well as broad societal outcomes.
"It is easy to talk about socially-just pedagogies, but the reality is tougher," she said.
The book introduces readers to the everyday challenges and achievements of the four Queensland teachers, who are just as diverse as the students they teach.
The teachers discuss how they deal with issues in the classroom in varying ways, sharing their own insights from their own learning experiences.
Dr Nayler believes the book will be highly relevant to both beginning teachers, as well as more experienced teachers.
"I think the book will resonate with teachers new to the profession, but it will also be very meaningful for more experienced teachers and education students looking for sophisticated ways in which teaching practice can be analysed,' Dr Nayler said.
University Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas praised Dr Nayler's work.
"This book highlights many of the challenges and controversies of what it is to be a teacher in the twenty-first century," Professor Thomas said.
"It derives those insights from a detailed, theoretically-informed analysis of teachers' personal accounts of their own professional practice.
"It's about social-justice in education, and ways that four teachers challenge their students to think about life, living and the sort of society we want to live in.
"This area is a demanding one and Dr Nayler has made an important contribution to this field.
"I hope that this is one of many books Dr Nayler will produce. I am sure they will prove to all be as challenging to educators generally, as this one has been to me," Professor Thomas said.