019953 Thesis (Critical Pedagogy and Social Change)

Warning: The information on this page is indicative. The subject outline for a particular session, location and mode of offering is the authoritative source of all information about the subject for that offering. Required texts, recommended texts and references in particular are likely to change. Students will be provided with a subject outline once they enrol in the subject.

Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.

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.