Meet The Education Researcher

Adam Lefstein (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) discusses his recent research on teachers’ talk as a form of professional learning.

We discuss the nature of ‘pedagogically productive talk’, how this can be supported within schools, and why online spaces are not always the best spaces for teachers to interact.

Sam Sellar (UniSA) is a leading commentator on the rise of numbers and data in education and education policy.

We discuss the phenomenon of ‘PISA-shock’, the emergence of algorithms, AI and ‘synthetic governance’ in education, as well as the benefits of reading well beyond the education research literature.

Professor Louise Archer (UCL) is involved in large-scale research looking at inequalities in young people’s participation in STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths.

We talk about the importance of young people’s ‘science capital’, the role that luck plays in whether someone progresses into the STEM professions, and what Louise has learnt along the way about research impact and making academic terminology accessible to non-academic audiences.

Prof Nicole Mockler (University of Sydney) is well-known for her work on the teaching profession and education policy.

We talk about Nicole's recent study of news media representations of teachers, her ongoing project on how teachers manage their time, and what hope there is for revitalising teaching as a profession.

Professor Alice Bradbury (UCL) is a leading sociologist of early years and primary education, focusing on matters of inequality and social justice.

We talk about Alice’s research on phonics teaching in English primary schools, the datafication of the early years classroom, and why we should be concerned about the emphasis now being placed on ideas of resilience, ‘grit’ and growth-mindset.

Prof. Julia Resnik (Hebrew University of Jerusalem) talks about her ongoing research into the International Baccalaureate – comparing the program’s take-up in US and Canada through to Argentina, Ecuador and Chile.

We discuss how the idealistic origins of the IB program have subsequently been shaped by national and local contexts, and what the IB tells us about the supposed internationalisation of education policy.

“I’m not anti-technology … I’m pro-justice”.

Dr. Marie Heath (Loyola University) works to encourage an informed scepticism about digital technology in education.

We talk about getting critical tech issues into Social Studies lessons, conducting ‘techno-ethical audits’ of school platforms, and creative ways of encouraging students and teachers to reflect on issues of power and political economy.

Full text transcript here: https://criticaledtech.com/2022/08/17/techno-scepticism-in-the-classroom-an-interview-with-marie-heath/

Mark Andrejevic (Monash University) is a leading commentator on surveillance, information and digital media.

In this interview Mark looks back on his highly acclaimed 2020 book ‘Automated Media’, and considers how these issues are beginning to play out in the digital technologies now being taken up across schools and universities.

Full transcript available: https://bridges.monash.edu/articles/journal_contribution/Education_In_an_Era_of_Pervasive_Automation/20744332

Professor Alison Taylor (UBC) has spent her career looking at the interplay between students, education, work and the economy.

We talk about the changing nature of student life in time of precarious employment, the limitations of talking about educational ‘careers’ and ‘trajectories’, and the empirical methods that Alison has found to be particularly successful when researching student experience.

Professor Bob Lingard (ACU) reflects on the art and craft of being an education researcher.

He talks about the distinction between ‘education’ research and ‘educational’ research, standing up for the added value of university-based research, and the need for academics to engage in the politics of education research.

* full text transcript: https://criticaledtech.com/2022/07/08/what-makes-for-good-education-researchinterview-with-bob-lingard-30th-june-2022%EF%BF%BC/