Title: Changing foci and expanding horizons- some reflections on directions for phenomenography and variation theory.
Abstract: This paper documents my journey of reflection, as I consider the way forward for phenomenography and variation theory. In the first half of the paper, I analyse my personal experience of phenomenography and variation theory, and explore some aspects of their development. My own professional journey suggests that phenomenography and variation theory have the potential to transform learning and teaching at every level; and have the potential to transform disciplines as colleagues begin to take an interest in understanding variation in the experience of phenomena related to their discipline. In the second half of the paper, I explore socio-political and methodological directions. I propose that the currently minor themes of growing teacher-researchers and fostering discipline-based research are likely to become more dominant; and that continuing emphases on phenomenography and variation theory will shed new light on our continuing conversations and debates in the university environment. Phenomenography is also becoming established as a well respected qualitative/interpretive research approach in the wider arena. We need to continue to strengthen the research approach, including establishing its interrelationship with variation theory, to make it more readily useable by colleagues engaged in ‘discipline’ research, and by teacher-researchers.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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Cited By Count: 4
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