Springer Knowledge at the Crossroads?: Physics and History in the Changing World of Schools and Universities

There is much discussion about what needs to change in education institutions in the 21st century, but less attention given to how core disciplinary studies should be considered within that context. This book is based on a major 4-year research study of history and physics in the changing environment of schools and universities in Australia. Are these forms of knowledge still valuable for students? Are they complementary to, or at odds with the concerns about ‘21st century skills’, interdisciplinary and collaborative research teams, employability and ‘learner-centred’ education? How do those who work in these fields see changes in their disciplines and in their work environment? And what are the similarities and differences between the experiences of teachers and academics in physics and those in history? The book draws on interviews with 115 school teachers and university academics to provide new perspectives on two important issues. Firstly, how, for the purposes of today’s schools and universities, can we adequately understand knowledge and knowledge building over time? Secondly, what has been productive and what has been counter-productive in recent efforts to steer and manage the changes in Australia? Review “This book is concerned with forms of knowledge in relation to the role of the disciplines and school subjects and their positioning in institutions during the twenty-first century. … Knowledge at the Crossroads? is beautifully written and the scholarship is impressive and timely. It is required reading for those of us who work in the fields of history and physics in schools and universities.” (Deborah Henderson, Curriculum Perspectives, Vol. 37 (2), September, 2017) From the Back Cover There is much discussion about what needs to change in education institutions in the 21st century, but less attention given to how core disciplinary studies should be considered within that context. This book is based on a major 4-year research study of history and physics in the changing environment of schools and universities in Australia. Are these forms of knowledge still valuable for students? Are they complementary to, or at odds with the concerns about ‘21st century skills’, interdisciplinary and collaborative research teams, employability and ‘learner-centred’ education? How do those who work in these fields see changes in their disciplines and in their work environment? And what are the similarities and differences between the experiences of teachers and academics in physics and those in history? The book draws on interviews with 115 school teachers and university academics to provide new perspectives on two important issues. Firstly, how, for the purposes of today’s schools and universities, can we adequately understand knowledge and knowledge building over time? Secondly, what has been productive and what has been counter-productive in recent efforts to steer and manage the changes in Australia? About the Author Lyn Yates is Foundation Professor of Curriculum and a former Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research) at the University of Melbourne. Lyn has an MA in history and M Ed and PhD in education. Her previous projects and publications include Reconstructing the Lifelong Learner (Routledge), Making Modern Lives (SUNY), Australia’s Curriculum Dilemmas (MUP), Curriculum in Today’s World (Routledge) and Women in the Scientific Research Workforce (L H Martin). Lyn is former president of the Australian Association for Research in Education; has served on the Australia Research Council; and is a fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Science. Peter Woelert is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne. He has had training in philosophy (PhD, University of New South Wales, Australia) and sociology (M.A, University of Frankfurt, Germany). His current research focuses on the politics and effects of performance governance at universities and the opportunities and ch