The Fabrication of the Autonomous Learner: Ethnographies of Educational Practices in Switzerland, France and Germany

This book explores how the figure of the 'autonomous learner' shapes educational practices, focusing on the individual pupil while neglecting the social dimensions of classroom practices. It examines how the translation of this figure into classrooms is shaped by distinct cultural traditions and discusses how it contributes to the reproduction of social inequality. It brings into dialogue two neighboring research traditions that research autonomous learning from a sociological perspective.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 226 pages
Publication date: 06 October 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This book offers a comprehensive and intricate examination of how the concept of the 'autonomous learner' influences educational practices. It delves into the consequences of the current educational reform discourse, which primarily emphasizes the individual pupil as a learner while disregarding the social aspects of classroom interactions. Given the evolving demands of the knowledge economy, students are expected to assume greater responsibility for their learning and develop into self-reliant, independent, and lifelong learners. Consequently, teachers are tasked with tailoring education to meet the unique needs of their students and fostering their individual learning trajectories.

Through extensive fieldwork and long-term observation of classroom interactions in three European countries—France, Germany, and Switzerland—scholars shed light on how the translation of the 'autonomous learner' into classrooms is shaped by distinct cultural traditions. Chapters analyze teaching routines and conceptions of self-reliance involved in autonomy-oriented settings and discuss how these alter the social dynamics within the classroom. They examine how autonomy is employed to differentiate between students and how it perpetuates social inequality. By bringing together two neighboring research traditions that have traditionally overlooked each other, the contributions offer a critical perspective for conducting a rigorous empirical analysis to better understand the actions undertaken in the name of autonomy.

This book serves as a valuable resource for scholars engaged in the field of education, providing insights into the various dimensions of developing and nurturing self-standing pupils across diverse educational contexts.

Weight: 374g
Dimension: 156 x 234 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032460086