Centre for Studies in Literacy, Policy and Learning Cultures (LPLC)
The Centre for Studies in Literacy, Policy and Learning Cultures consists of some of Australia's leading academics in the fields of literacy, policy, middle years of schooling, literacy assessment and pedagogy, curriculum, adult education, vocational education and training, historical research methods, media and new information and communication technologies in literacy education, gender education, equity and education, leadership, school reform, indigenous education and Aboriginal literacy. The Centre is a foundation member of the Hawke Research Institute for Sustainable Societies (HRISS).
- The research agenda
- Research services
- Teaching program
- Support services for the education profession
- Member services
The research agenda
Centre researchers are developing new forms of socially responsible, change-oriented, advocacy research and development programs predicated on the principles of participation and equity. We work collaboratively with young people, educational workers, parents/caregivers/families, teachers, administrators and policy makers. All Centre members share a research interest in, and conduct professional development with, the education profession.
Research at the Centre addresses three broad domains: literacy, policy and learning cultures.
Literacy
Centre members conduct research in literacy and language education at all levels of education. We focus on early literacy; critical literacy; literacy and middle schooling; new literacies; English for speakers of other languages and tertiary literacies and pedagogies. Researchers have a commitment to researching the equity implications of changing linguistic and cultural diversity.
Policy
Centre researchers are engaged in a wide range of policy related research. This research addresses such issues as the development and effects of policy in various educational sites, local responses to system wide policy and the development of policy within educational institutions. Centre members also work with schools and systems in the development of policy.
Learning cultures
Centre members conduct research into teaching and learning practices that
include traditional classroom pedagogies, culturally sensitive pedagogies
and emerging practices associated with new technologies. A key focus is on
the learning cultures that emerge in different circumstances.
Research foci that arise from these domains include:
- language, discourse and representation in education
- young people, education and identities
- various educational sites including pre-school and school classrooms, workplaces, cyber-cultures, popular cultures, corporate cultures
- locating learning and identities in space and place
- equity and diversity in education and education for a just world
- the relationship between education and broader social, cultural, political, technological and economic changes.
Research services
The Centre:
- sustains and develops the collaborative research agenda of Centre members in relation to changing educational cultures
- encourages, commissions and disseminates basic, applied, action-oriented research with a local, state, national and international focus
- adopts both conventional and innovative research methodologies
- encourages and undertakes the publication, promotion and dissemination of the finding of its research through a range of different publication modes and formats
- develops and maintains strong partnerships with current and emerging education industries
- provides the teaching profession, government agencies, public bodies, commercial organisations and individuals with research, consultancy and development services
- promotes its operation and otherwise raises funds to finance its operations.
Teaching program
The Centre provides a range of programs at graduate and postgraduate level through the School of Education at Magill. Programs include:
- PhD in Education
- Eastern Canada PhD in Education
- Professional Doctorate in Education
- Master of Education specialisation offered by the Centre
- Language and Literacy
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) - Graduate Certificate in Education
Postgraduate students can study internally or through flexible delivery including online courses. Postgraduate students are provided high quality facilities and support on campus.
Support services for the education profession
The research and consultancy team in the Centre provides a range of
services to assist all members of the educational community.
These include:
- consultancy
- evaluation - school, policy and program
- research - basic and applied
- curriculum development
- professional development - conferences, seminars and workshops
- expert speakers
- information about current research
- media commentary.
Member services
The Centre provides a range of services to members including:
- assisting them in the development of research and research and development proposals
- conducting a seminar/workshop series
- sustaining a program of visiting speakers and scholars
- conducting regular reading groups around common theoretical issues and concerns
- conducting conferences and developing publications from them
- assisting them in gaining access to the media to promote their research outcomes and to develop the skills appropriate to such promotional work
- assisting them to publish through the mobilisation of networks into research
- publications and through 'work-shopping'
- occasional publications.