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Freedom to innovate
Citation
Deneen, CC and Prosser, M, Freedom to innovate, Educational Philosophy and Theory ISSN 0013-1857 (2020) [Refereed Article]
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DOI: doi:10.1080/00131857.2020.1783244
Abstract
Freedom to innovate in teaching and learning are essential to meaningful higher education. Universities’ rhetorical commitments to freedom
and innovation are ubiquitous and quite homogenous. Beneath the
rhetoric, however, lie sharp divides between neo-liberal and
Humboldtian approaches to innovation, course design, teaching and
learning. This article argues that to understand the authentic approach
of a university to innovation requires going beyond the rhetoric. We
must instead examine context-specific experiences and understandings
of the curriculum, especially in terms of teaching, learning, assessment
and evaluation. Making this critical examination, we see that
Humboldtian frameworks rely on broad understandings of value connected to learners and their communities. Neoliberal frameworks by
contrast reduce and essentialise these understandings to customer service provision. Treating students as customers has significant implications for how innovation is defined and enacted through increasing
aversion to the risks inherent to attempting innovation. Quality evaluation and assurance processes inevitably align with an institution’s
authentic approach, regardless of what rhetorical commitments suggest.
The article concludes by suggesting ways forward grounded in teaching,
learning and evaluation. These are congruent with a Humboldtian
approach and may, through their application bring the rhetoric of
teaching and learning innovation into alignment with experienced reality.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | higher education, neoliberal, freedom, learning, teaching, assessment |
| Research Division: | Education |
| Research Group: | Education systems |
| Research Field: | Continuing and community education |
| Objective Division: | Education and Training |
| Objective Group: | Learner and learning |
| Objective Field: | Learner and learning not elsewhere classified |
| UTAS Author: | Prosser, M (Professor Michael Prosser) |
| ID Code: | 145199 |
| Year Published: | 2020 |
| Deposited By: | Education |
| Deposited On: | 2021-07-09 |
| Last Modified: | 2021-08-19 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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