Although the fields of chaos and complexity are important in a number of disciplines, they have not yet been influential in education. This book remedies this dilemma by gathering essays by authors from around the world who have studied and applied chaos and complexity theories to their teaching. Rich in its material, recursive in its interweaving of themes, conversational in its relationships, and rigorous in its analysis, the book is essential reading for undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals who deal with these important topics.

This handbook sets out the processes and products of ′digital′ research. It is a theoretical and practical guide on how to undertake and navigate advanced research in the arts, humanities and social sciences. Topics covered include: - how to make research more accessible - the use of search engines and other sources to determine the scope of work - research training for students - what will theses, dissertations and research reports look like in ten years′ time? - the storing and archiving of such research - ethics and methodologies in the field - intercultural issues The editors focus on advances in arts and practice-based doctorates, and their application in other fields and disciplines. The contributions chart new territory for universities, research project directors, supervisors and research students regarding the nature and format of Masters and doctoral work, as well as research projects. This handbook is an essential reference for researchers, supervisors and administrators on how to conduct and evaluate research projects in a digital and multimodal age. Richard Andrews is Professor in English, Faculty of Children and Learning, Institute of Education. Erik Borg is a Senior Lecturer at Coventry University′s Centre for Academic Writing. Stephen Boyd Davis is Research Leader in the School of Design, Royal College of Art. Myrrh Domingo is Visiting Assistant Professor in English Education and Literacy Education at New York University. Jude England is Head of Social Sciences at the British Library.

Complexity theory has become a major influence in discussions about the theory and practice of education. This book focuses on a question which so far has received relatively little attention in such discussions, which is the question of the politics of complexity.

In this new monograph, Claire Hansen demonstrates how Shakespeare can be understood as a complex system, and how complexity theory can provide compelling and original readings of Shakespeare’s plays. The book utilises complexity theory to illuminate early modern theatrical practice, Shakespeare pedagogy, and the phenomenon of the Shakespeare ‘myth’. The monograph re-evaluates Shakespeare, his plays, early modern theatre, and modern classrooms as complex systems, illustrating how the lens of complexity offers an enlightening new perspective on diverse areas of Shakespeare scholarship. The book’s interdisciplinary approach enriches our understanding of Shakespeare and lays the foundation for complexity theory in Shakespeare studies and the humanities more broadly.

This book explores the complexity of communication and understanding as a possible asset in formal education rather than a problem that needs to be “fixed”. The authors examine the question and experience as pedagogical tools, challenging readers to play the critic and ask hard questions, beginning with: Why do the ideas discussed within the book matter? The digital information age with expanding ways of thinking, being, communicating, and learning complicates public education. So, what happens as diverse narratives collide in schools? To answer this question, the authors of this book delve into conflicting assumptions within the framework of complexity sciences and education in an attempt to explore space beyond positivist/anti-positivist debates. This involves examining the role of cultural and aesthetic narratives and cautionary tales as means of acknowledging possibilities in human experiences in education. These possibilities can facilitate praxis, as theory, research, and teaching become reflective practices, and as thinking about education broadens to include diverse methods of understanding and presenting complex phenomena.

CONTENTS: The President' Message, Alan W. Garrett. The Editor's Notes: Pressures, Problems, and Possibilities in the World of Teaching, Research, Service, and Learning, Barbara Slater Stern. PART I. On the State of Curriculum Studies: A Personal Practical Inquiry, Michael Connelly with Shijing Xu. Narratives of Teaching and Learning: A Tribute to our Teacher, Elaine Chan and Vicki Ross. The Temporal Experience of Curriculum, Candace Schlein. Intergenerational Stories: A Narrative Inquiry Into an Immigrant Child's Life in Canada, Guming Zhao. Excavating Teacher Knowledge in Reforming School Contexts: A Collaborative Approach, Cheryl Craig. One Teacher's Practice in a Kenyan Classroom: Overcoming Barriers to Teaching HIV/AIDS Curriculum, Bosire Mwebi. Classrooms in Transition: Visions and Voices-Teachers in Lahore, Pakistan, Peggy Schimmoeller. New and Veteran Teachers' Perspectives About Delivering Multicultural Education, Timothy Thomas. Curriculum Wars Regarding Islam: Dissent in the Academy, James Moore. Self-Alienation: The Language of Discontent, William White.An Effective Form of Violence: Hegemonic Masculine Identity Performances in the Institutional Context of School, Mark Malaby. PART II. John Dewey and a Curriculum of Moral Knowledge, David Hansen. David Hansen: Influences at Multiple Levels of Teaching, Learning and Service, Blake Bickham, Jim Garrison, Susan McDonough, Janice Ozga, and Michelle Ward. The Angle of Incidence of Progressivism in Rural Science Education, William Veal. No Child Left Behind-A Critical Anaylsis: A Nation at Greater Risk, Charles Ellis. The Beast in the Matrix, Madeleine Grumet. Dealing with Shifting Expectations in a College of Education: Standing on a Moving Ship, Lynne Bailey, Adam Harbaugh, Kimberly Hartman, Tina Heafner, Charles Hutchison, Teresa Petty, and Lan Quach. The Hidden Hypocrisy of University Faculty Regarding On-Line Instruction, Kathie Good and Kathy Peca. Defining and Examining Technology Intelligence: Cultivating Beginning Teachers', Steven L. Purcell and Diane M. Wilcox. Virtual Literature Circles, Carol Klages, Shana Pate and Peter A. Conforti, Jr. Transforming Discussions From Collegiate to Collegial, Paul Michalec and Hilary Burg.BOOK REVIEW: Chaos, Complexity, Curriculum, and Culture: A Conversation, Angel Kymes. Reviewer Acknowledgments. Call for Manuscripts. About the Authors.

Understanding Educational Complexity presents in-depth case studies to explore the interdependence of educational research, practice, and policy, and offers frameworks for understanding how the intractable dilemmas of education reflect and embody the social, cultural, and developmental patterns of society.