Education

The course examines theoretical and research perspectives on gender in education, with particular attention to the intersections of gender, race, class, and sexualities. It investigates how educational policies and practices address gender issues and introduces discourse analysis as a critical analytical tool. The course explores the role of feminist thought in understanding gender in educational contexts in Aotearoa New Zealand, engaging with contemporary feminist debates and questions such as: Does feminism still matter? Are we in a post-feminist phase? Or does feminism matter more than ever? Topics include gender-inclusive curriculum, pedagogy, and policy; the critique of popular gender-normative advice literature; and approaches to queering the curriculum, with opportunities for discussion and engagement with current media debates.

The work-related project is primarily a university-based project with a focus on particular professional ecologies connected with arts discipline skills, practices, praxis and performance. Projects provide an opportunity for students to either reflect on key issues attached to communication and creative industries or simulate aspects of professional practice (e.g. professional writing, research, or creative practice).

The course examines, integrates, and applies theories of human development, learning, and assessment to educational practice. It introduces the theoretical and research foundations of educational psychology as they relate to classroom teaching. The course explores concepts such as well-being, self-efficacy, constructivism, digital technology, motivation, talent development, and assessment, while addressing questions including: Should well-being be taught in schools? Is self-control more important than self-esteem? Can digital technology transform learning? Is positive thinking overrated? Is there too much emphasis on measurement in assessment?

Students complete an internship with a local organization or company. Each placement includes oversight and regular check-ins with an internship supervisor from the company or organization. The Internship Methodology Seminar accompanies the internship placement and offers a platform for reflection, enhancement of skills, and development of cultural competence. It focuses on practical skill application, cultural understanding, and adaptability within professional environments to provide a bridge between academic learning and real-world experience.

This course explores the rich and multifaceted concept of “education,” which operates on a different plane than concrete acts such as “telling-listening” or “showing-seeing.” Drawing on the intellectual legacies of scholars such as R.S. Peters, I. Scheffler, and Minoru Murai, the course adds and develops their foundational insights.

This course begins by looking at the historical background of English education in Japan up until today's discussions of the demands that globalization requires of Japanese learners and educators. While deepening understanding of the role of English as a language of international communication in the era of globalization, the course considers the linguistic content and teaching approaches suitable for Japanese education. The course also encourages students to reflect on their understanding of English education in Japan.

Students are expected to be able to distinguish different focuses and approaches to environmental education for sustainability, and then plan their own learning strategies according to the educational context they must address.

This course examines Japanese schooling from sociological and comparative perspectives. The first section focuses on the socializing role of schooling. What kind of values and skills are learned in Japanese schooling? How do they differ from other societies? How do they change from preschool to high school? The second section focuses on the sorting mechanism of schooling. To what extent is Japanese education system an egalitarian system, in terms of social class or gender, when compared with other OECD countries? How do countries differ in their conceptualization or educational equality or mechanism of stratification? The last section addresses some recent educational reforms that have been widely debated in Japan.

Decolonizing education is critical for social justice in the Global North and South. This raises important questions about the relationships between knowledge, power, and society in the past and present. This course addresses these issues. It engages with the politics and history of education in both UK and international contexts. It critiques how the curriculum has privileged particular knowledges and identities in ways that are racialized, gendered, and classed. Throughout the course, students relate these issues to students’ own experiences of education and what decolonizing education means for them.