Key ideas in the work of Michel Foucault are explored and applied to the organized pursuit of knowledge in higher education. His association of power and knowledge accounts for deeply rooted practices in higher education that would need to be mediated or overcome for there to be a revolution in inquiry to occur, such as the one advanced by…

In the following paper, the author draws upon the works of critical theorists and critical curriculum scholars to investigate the intersection of the social and political realms with contemporary educational and curricular trends. This paper specifically explores connections between current curriculum trends with neutrality, social reproduction,…

The term "critical literacy" refers to use of the technologies of print and other media of communication to analyze, critique, and transform the norms, rule systems, and practices governing the social fields of everyday life (A. Luke, 2004). Since Freire's (1970) educational projects in Brazil, approaches to critical literacy have been…

Focuses on the sophisticated means used by teachers to influence students to do things. The article discusses the resources available for modulation, presents the semantic continuum from subjective realizations via objective realizations to "demodalised" realizations, and applies this framework to teacher talk extracts. The article…

Presents a history of critical approaches to literacy from a neo-Marxist perspective; discusses the social, cultural and ideological work "literacy" has performed in the service of the "dominant discourse"; and highlights literacy's hegemonic function in Australia, Great Britain, and the United States. Argues that literacy…

Background: Although much has been written about the ways in which new technology might transform educational practice, particularly in the area of literacy learning, there is relatively little empirical work that explores the possibilities and problems--or even what such a transformation might look like in the classroom. 3D virtual worlds offer a…

Analyzes examples of parent-teacher talk and printed materials sent to parents of students attending various secondary schools in and around a large city. The article focuses on extracts in which responsibility for student surveillance is negotiated. Findings indicate that parents, teachers, and students regulate themselves and each other through…