EDUC6261

Comparative Education: Debates and Dilemmas

Faculty of Education and Arts School of Education

10 Units 6000 Level Course

Available in 2013

Callaghan Campus	Semester 2

Previously offered in 2012, 2011

The course provides an overview of major concepts and theories in the field of comparative and international education (CIE), and debates in relation to the methodologies and specific methods appropriate to the field. Major historical and contemporary scholars and studies will be examined to develop students' understandings about the conceptual and methodological issues within CIE. In particular, the course focuses on particular problems or issues in educational systems, contexts, regions or nations, and the competing theoretical positions and debates that underpin and surround these lines of research. This includes students' study of identified case-studies, applying particular theories and discussing their findings.

Objectives

This course provides students with the opportunity to:
1. demonstrate understanding of concepts and theoretical perspectives and their methodological implications to the field of CIE;
2. explore the relationship between research theories and methodologies;
3. examine examples of problems or issues with educational systems or phenomena accounting for specific processes and particular contexts; and
4. apply particular CIE theories and methodologies to a specific case study.

Content

The following list indicates indicative course content:
1. An understanding of multiple theories and concepts of CIE and their implications for research methodologies
2. Comparison of national education systems and global initiatives in their socio-political and historical contexts, from different theoretical positions
3. Analysis of case studies and elaboration of typologies
4. New methodologies in CIE and their theoretical underpinnings

Replacing Course(s)

Transition

Industrial Experience

Assumed Knowledge

Modes of Delivery

External Mode
Internal Mode

Teaching Methods

Self Directed Learning
Tutorial

Assessment Items

Essays / Written Assignments	Assessment Item 1 Written discussion of the literature.
Essays / Written Assignments	Assessment Item 2 Review the literature in a substantive area or on a specific topic and suggest a problem or issue that arises from your readings in the existing research.

Contact Hours

Tutorial: for 2 hour(s) per Week for Full Term

Timetables