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Planning
and organizing educational research
Organizer: Amanuensis Ole Ravn Christensen, Aalborg University
Phone: +45 9635 9784, E-mail: orc@learning.auc.dk
Lecturers: Professor Ole Skovsmose, Aalborg University
ECTS: 2.5
Time: November, 26-28 2003
Language: Danish and English
Place: Aalborg University
Deadline: November 14, 2003
Description:
This course focuses on the methodological dimension of educational research,
in particular with the formulation of methodological frameworks, strategies
for data collection, and initiation of data analysis. Examples for discussion
will be taken from the areas of technology, science and mathematics education.
However, the discussions, readings and approach of the whole course are
suited for all students with research projects in learning processes and
education.
Based on the presentation of the participants' projects and their considerations
on methodology, the course will discuss diverse aspects of research planning
and organization. The issue of the coherence and transparency in choosing
research problems, theories and methodological approaches will be underlying
such discussion. Particular reference to existing research methodologies
and their implications in theory and in methodological design in each
concrete case will be provided. The course will introduce students to
methodology literature that adopts a critical approach towards existing
and dominant traditions in educational research.
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Ph.D.
Program
Technology and Science
This Ph.D.
program explores current key issues of education in the fields of technology
and engineering, science and mathematics, in levels such as basic school,
high school, university and further education of adults. The growing international
research on forming people to understand existing forms of knowledge and
generate new and alternative ways of knowing in these fields is at the
core of the program.
There are
two thematic areas that define the profile of the program. First, the
socio-political dimension of technology, science and mathematics education
provides an insight into the complexity of the relationships between education
in these fields and the overall context of education. The courses in this
thematic area are designed to allow Ph.D. students entering a discussion
about the social role that technology, science and mathematics play in
contemporary societies both locally and globally. This thematic area brings
together different theories and tools from sociology and education into
the analysis of educational processes in the fields.
Second, the
reflection on the process of knowing through research in technology, science
and mathematics education offers a critical examination of the process
of engaging in a Ph.D. study. This thematic area breaks the classic idea
of educational research methodology as a collection of methodologies that
are available for use. Instead, it offers an examination of "doing
a research" as a process of knowledge creation in which the researcher
is constantly making decisions of theoretical and methodological nature,
in a search for coherence in his or her experience in tackling either
theoretical or empirical problems. This area allows students to examine
how their own projects get constructed as a research.
The program
offers at least two courses per year, in each of the thematic areas. The
courses are designed in a cycle of three years so that students can have
a continuity during the time of their Ph.D. studies in their reflection
on both some issues of content and of form in relation to their own projects.
The courses follow an active pedagogy which requires a high level of participation
and involvement on the side of the students in reading materials, discussing
them together with other participants, and presenting his or her own project
with the aim of receiving feed-back from both the course leaders and other
students.
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More information:http://www.auc.dk/fak-tekn/phd/kurser/index.htm#tech_scie
Risk
and responsibility
Organizer:
Assistant professor Paola Valero, Aalborg University
Phone: +45 96359782, E-mail: paola@dcn.auc.dk
Lecturers: Professor Ole Skovsmose and Assistant professor Paola
Valero, Aalborg University
ECTS: 2.5
Time: April 2-4, 2003
Language: Danish and English
Place: Aalborg University
Deadline: March 17, 2003
Description:
The raise of the risk
society has generated challenges to the philosophy of science, both in
the natural and the social sciences. In understanding the complexity of
the world nowadays it seems impossible to draw clear separation lines
between these two fields of knowledge since the natural science, mathematics
and technology, on the one hand, as well as the social and human sciences,
on the other hand, are implicated in both the creation of the risks and
in the search for explanations and understandings of the functioning of
these risks in our world.
This course
aims at providing a critical examination of:
- Scientific
development and its role in the formatting of the social world through
the creation of risk structures
- The ethical
and political dimension of scientific work
- The implications
for education
These issues
will frame the discussion of studies presented by the course participants.
Course
activities:
The discussion about the main topics in the course will be done through
the examination of some ideas that illustrate the predicaments of each
topic. We want to address the notions of 'progress' and 'technological
optimism', which previously have set the agenda for how to consider both
technological and scientific development and the organization of mathematics
and science education. 'Progress' and 'technological optimism' has been
seen as characteristics of modernity. We will discuss what it could mean
if the very content of 'progress' and 'technological optimism' is questioned.
Furthermore, we will preset the idea that 'uncertainty' leads to an ethical
demand, which can be referred to in terms of 'responsibility'. Finally,
we will consider what this could mean for mathematics and science education
as well as for the working technicians.
Presentations
by the course participants will play an important role. Therefore each
participant must prepare a short presentation about her/his research project,
in which the following aspects are considered:
- Issues
where the notions like uncertainty, risk or responsibility are addressed.
- Issues
related to the development of technology or the organization of mathematics
and science education where ethical aspects could be considered.
Materials:
Course participants will receive a list of literature and a moderate amount
of suggestions for readings as preparation for the course. During the
course more material will be distributed and a substantial list of references
will be presented.
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