Utopia: An imaginative, critical and playful dialogue on the meaning and practice of contemporary education. (12th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hayes, Michael T.; Marino, Matthew
• Other Names: Jandrić Petar guest-editor.; Sinclair Christine guest-editor.; Macleod Hamish guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: E-Learning and digital media. Volume 12:Number 3/4(2015)
• Page Start: 327
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2015-06-12
• Subjects: Utopia -- imagination -- education -- philosophy; Internet in education -- Periodicals; Computer-assisted instruction -- Periodicals; Education -- Computer network resources -- Periodicals; Educational technology -- Periodicals; Distance education -- Periodicals; 371.33405
• DOI: 10.1177/2042753015571039
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2042-7530

Abstract

In this article the authors re-examine Sir Thomas More's classic book Utopia as a potential source of ideas and concepts for examining, understanding and imagining contemporary education. Too often the concept utopia is used to criticize an idea, perspective or image as offering a simplistic solution to a complex problem, or, at its worst, as a model that all must be forced to accept. In our rereading of Utopia we suggest that the book and the concept can be best understood as an imaginative, critical and playful dialogue. When applied to the field of education utopia offers the potential for reimagining how we engage with and conceptualize educational theory and practice.