019953 Thesis (Critical Pedagogy and Social Change)

Description

This thesis is designed for community education and social change practitioners. It aims to build students' capability to engage in evidence-based research to strengthen advocacy. Through it they engage in a structured program of study to enhance their work as an advocate and activist for positive social change. The thesis develops students' ability to undertake research in an area of interest or advocacy aligned with bringing about positive social change. The course is premised on collective learning and community-based critical education, as a necessary driver of sustainable social change. They build research-based knowledge about the theory and practice of critical pedagogy, for instance via case studies in social change. Themes addressed may include critical education, community education, and lifelong education practice, policy and pedagogy, reparative education, culturally sustaining or nourishing pedagogies, superdiversity and intersectionality, truth-telling and public pedagogy, and digital inclusion. Through the thesis students may engage with a range of research methodologies such as practitioner action research (PAR), critical ethnography and narrative inquiry.