New book proposes current metaphor for further education
Mon, 08 Jun 2015 10:07:00 BST
The book, ‘Further Education and the Twelve Dancing Princesses’ is now published by IOE press.
The book was written by Dr Kevin Orr, Reader in Work and Learning with contributions from partner institutions (Lou Mycroft and Jane Weatherby of Northern College and Gemma Breed, Joel Petrie and Maire Daley of the City of Liverpool College). Contributions also included staff from a range of organisations including trades unions, sixth form colleges, other Universities (the University of Brighton, the University of Greenwich, Staffordshire University and Wolverhampton University), and further education colleges.
The twelve chapters cover issues such as professional development, professionalism, transformative learning, the impact of technology and physical spaces.
These include:
- Why Teach? Not Afraid to Dance
- Teaching and ideology, or why aren't we all dancing?
- Frivolity as resistance? What do the dancing princesses and their shoes that were danced to pieces tell us about risk taking and the potential for pedagogic bungee jumping in FE classrooms?,
- Spaces to dance: Community education
- Action for ESOL: Pedagogy, professionalism and politics
- Beyond the metaphor: Time to take over the castle
The blog about the book already has reviews posted, which include:
‘How refreshing to read such a provocative, thoughtful and highly original book from FE professionals who value and champion their work - and FE - amidst increasing pressures and restrictions. The twelve chapters, each written by a dancing princess, provide principled, passionate discourse and authentic protest - mature dissent - ranging from "angry and defiant to hopeful and heartening". I hope this book opens a new level of debate, understanding, synergy, practice and thought leadership between FE staff and FE leaders (at every level). It highlights the need to challenge the prevailing political and neoliberal paradigms which restrict our educational ideals and possibilities. I hope many, many people in FE - and elsewhere - read, engage and dance.'
'This wonderful book deliberates on how to put the joy back into teaching and, thereby, increase the passion for learning in students ... An inspiring pedagogy of resistance is emerging here. It's a fertile process where campaigners make excellent educators. And, since resistance is the secret of joy, cast your dancing spell my way. I promise to go under it.'
The book was launched at the Consortium/TELL/LSRN event, entitled ‘Reconstructing democratic professionalism’ in May 2015. The launch included two workshops, “Spaces to dance: Community Education” led by Lou Mycroft and Jane Weatherby (Northern College) and “Stories from the other eleven Dancing Princesses” by Maire Daley (formerly of City of Liverpool College).
A link to the book can also be found on the University repository.
