Social Practices in Higher Education: A Knowledge Framework Approach to Linguistic Research and Teaching

This book explores Mohans (1986) concept of a social practice, an educational activity that can be considered as action in a frame of meaning, or a "knowledge framework" (KF). It provides a theoretical framework for researching the language of social practices and organizing lessons to help teachers bring explicit language development into content teaching. It also illustrates the complexity of the role activities play in education and provides empirically grounded examples of how Mohans work is being implemented in universities worldwide.

Format: Hardback
Length: 470 pages
Publication date: 01 November 2023
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd

This book delves into the concept of social practice, as conceptualized by Mohan (1986), which can be regarded as an educational activity that operates within a framework of meaning or a "knowledge framework" (KF). The KF, rooted in systemic functional linguistics, serves as a heuristic that offers both a theoretical framework for exploring the language of social practices and a practical guide for designing lessons that can assist teachers in integrating explicit language development into their content teaching.

The primary objective of this volume is to showcase the significance of a functional approach to language research in the realm of research within the experiential tradition of John Dewey, a pragmatist who viewed knowledge as a product of the human organism's active adaptation to its environment. Another aim is to illustrate the intricate role that activities play in education. This book stands as the first to examine the linguistic demands of the activities that occur in higher education. It presents empirically grounded examples of how Mohan's work is being implemented in universities across the globe, thereby contributing to ongoing discussions about the use of educational activities to teach and describe disciplinary literacy and the integrated development of language and content.

In conclusion, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of social practice, knowledge framework, and their implications for education. By presenting the latest research on the application of Mohan's SFL-based theory in higher education institutions, it provides valuable insights into the potential of a functional approach to language research as a tool for understanding and enhancing the educational experience.

Weight: 127g
Dimension: 234 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781781797402