Toward a historical ontology of the infopolitics of data-driven decision-making (DDDM) in education. Issue 9 (8th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Pickup, Austin
• Is Part Of: Educational philosophy and theory. Volume 54:Issue 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1476
• Page End: 1487
• Publication Date: 2022-08-08
• Subjects: Data-driven decision-making -- historical ontology -- infopolitics; Education -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Teaching -- Periodicals; Éducation; Philosophie de l'éducation; Théorie de l'éducation; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 370.1
• DOI: 10.1080/00131857.2021.1935232
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-1857

Abstract

Abstract: This paper interrogates the fundamental logic of data-driven decision-making (DDDM) as it has taken hold in education and argues for a critical analysis of data-driven education via an attitude of historical ontology. Though influenced by Foucault's understanding of this concept, I center Colin Koopman's recent analysis of the 'informational person' to point attention to the ways in which the very formatting of data may be understood as historically contingent and, thus, more contestable. After examining the background of DDDM and relevant critiques of it, I suggest that investigating the socio-historical formations of data itself are important for indicating its potential dangers within education. Such a critical analysis identifies the doubled politics of data formatting, with its ability to tether subjectivity to data, while potentially baking modes of power into a variety of technological data apparatuses. To conclude, I consider Koopman's work in terms of how it may extend critical studies of educational datafication.