Educational Research From a Socio-Technical Approach: A Commitment to Education and Its “Agents of Change”

• In Event: Roundtable Session 45
  In Roundtable Session: (Re)framing Theory: Foucault, Education, and Subjectivity

Abstract

In contrast to a focus on human aspects of education (learning, intention, meaning, well-being) generally adopted in educational research, this paper discusses a socio-technical approach (STA) to study educational practices. This approach highlights the vital role materialities play in the assemblage of our daily educational (academic, pedagogical) practices and hence, the importance of empirical research accounting for this role. First, an overview of STA’s key characteristics is offered, focusing on the performative and relational nature of practices ‘in the making’. Furthermore, ‘cartographic ethnographies’ are developed as a specific research design. These methodological designs, we argue, yield particular critical potential in the dialogue around ‘the commitment of education research to serve the public good’ as stated in the AERA mission.

Authors

• Carlijne Ceulemans, University of Antwerp

• Mathias Decuypere, K.U. Leuven

• Maarten Simons, University of Leuven

• Elke Struyf, Universiteit Antwerpen