EDF5669 · Policy, politics and power

Overview

In this unit, you will examine the ways politics and power shape education policy. You will investigate different types of education policy, including ‘official’ policy and unofficial policy in the form of discourses and norms. You will develop an understanding of the external drivers on leadership and explore how power and influence are held over education policy by different groups and organisations. In exploring these issues, students will examine pressing issues relating to leadership and policy, including the impact of privatisation and commercialisation of education, globalisation, and ask questions such as who is education in its current form working for? How can we make a difference as leaders? In considering these questions, you will explore ethics, autonomy, and agency in relation to education policy, politics, power, and the persistent wicked problems of leadership.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook does not list a final examination among the assessment items. That is not a guarantee there is none.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. understand different aspects of educational policy including how policy is enacted in a variety of educational contexts
2. articulate the various influences on education policy, demonstrating an understanding of politics and power as they relate to contemporary education policy
3. analyse the way education policy reflects dominant political and ideological beliefs about education
4. apply theoretical and methodological analysis approaches towards policy enactment in their own educational contexts.

Workload

The minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 288 hours per teaching period comprising a mixture of scheduled learning activities and independent study. Usually, you can expect to engage with: • 12 hours of scheduled learning delivered on campus via weekly/regular directed learning activities, 24 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study OR • 36 hours of scheduled learning delivered online via a combination of synchronous and asynchronous directed learning activities, and the remaining hours to be allocated towards self-directed/independent study^ ^ International students studying in Australia are not permitted to undertake this scheduled learning delivery mode. Scheduled learning activities may include a combination of teacher directed learning, peer directed learning and online engagement.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.