The Hidden Role of Software in Educational Research: Policy to Practice

231 Pages·2015·1.1 MB·English

by  Tom Liam Lynch

The Hidden Role of Software
in Educational Research
Educational research often discounts the uniqueness and ubiquity of soft-
ware and the hidden political, economic and epistemological ways it impacts
teaching and learning in K-12 settings. Drawing on theories and methodolo-
gies from English education, critical discourse analysis, multimodal semiot-
ics and digital humanities, this volume exposes the problems of technology
in schools and refocuses the conversation on software. This shifting of focus
invites more nuanced questions concerning the role of software in school
reform and classroom instruction, and takes a critical stance on software’s
role in education.
This volume explores the ontology of software and the ways it is construed
within educational policy discussions. It is benefi cial to schools, companies,
policy makers and practitioners seeking a unique theoretical framework
for technology in education.
Tom Liam Lynch is Assistant Professor of Education Technology at Pace
University, USA.
Routledge Research in Education
For a full list of titles in this series, please visit www.routledge.com
117 Vernaculars in the 123 Chinese Students’ Writing
Classroom in English
Paradoxes, Pedagogy, Implications from a
Possibilities corpus-driven study
Shondel Nero and Dohra Ahmad Maria Leedham
118 Professional Uncertainty, 124 9/11 and Collective Memory
Knowledge and Relationship in US Classrooms
in the Classroom Teaching about Terror
A psycho-social perspective Cheryl Lynn Duckworth
Joseph Mintz
125 African Americans and
119 Negotiating Privilege and Homeschooling
Identity in Educational Motivations, Opportunities
Contexts and Challenges
Adam Howard, Aimee Polimeno, Ama Mazama and
and Brianne Wheeler Garvey Musumunu
120 Liberty and Education 126 Lesson Study
A civic republican approach Professional learning
Geoffrey Hinchliffe for our time
Edited by Peter Dudley
121 Constructing Narratives of
Continuity and Change 127 Refugee Women,
A transdisciplinary approach Representation
to researching lives and Education
Edited by Hazel Reid and Creating a discourse of self-
Linden West authorship and potential
Melinda McPherson
122 Education, Philosophy and
Wellbeing 128 Organizational Citizenship
New perspectives on the work Behavior in Schools
of John White Examining the impact
Edited by Judith Suissa, and opportunities within
Carrie Winstanley and educational systems
Roger Marples Anit Somech and Izhar Oplatka
129 The Age of STEM 136 Landscapes of Specifi c
Educational policy and practice Literacies in Contemporary
across the world in Science, Society
Technology, Engineering Exploring a social model of
and Mathematics literacy
Edited by Brigid Freeman, Edited by Vicky Duckworth and
Simon Marginson and Gordon Ade-Ojo
Russell Tytler
137 The Education of Radical
130 Mainstreams, Margins and
Democracy
the Spaces In-between
Sarah S. Amsler
New possibilities for education
research
Edited by Karen Trimmer, 138 Aristotelian Character
Ali Black and Stewart Riddle Education
Kristján Kristjánsson
131 Arts-based and Contemplative
Practices in Research and
139 Performing Kamishibai
Teaching
Tara McGowan
Honoring Presence
Edited by Susan Walsh,
Barbara Bickel, and Carl Leggo 140 Educating Adolescent Girls
Around the Globe
Edited by Sandra L. Stacki and
132 Interrogating Critical
Supriya Baily
Pedagogy
The Voices of Educators of
Color in the Movement 141 Quality Teaching and the
Edited by Pierre Wilbert Orelus Capability Approach
and Rochelle Brock Evaluating the work
and governance of women
133 My School teachers in rural Sub-Saharan
Listening to parents, teachers and Africa
students from a disadvantaged Alison Buckler
educational setting
Lesley Scanlon
142 Using Narrative Inquiry for
Educational Research in the
134 Education, Nature, and Society
Asia Pacifi c
Stephen Gough
Edited by Sheila Trahar and
Wai Ming Yu
135 Learning Technologies and
the Body
Integration and Implementation 143 The Hidden Role of Software
In Formal and Informal Learning in Educational Research
Environments Policy to Practice
Edited by Victor Lee Tom Liam Lynch
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The Hidden Role of Software
in Educational Research
Policy to Practice
Tom Liam Lynch
First published 2015
by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
and by Routledge
2 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2015 Taylor & Francis
The right of Tom Liam Lynch to be identifi ed as author of this work has
been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the
Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or
utilised in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now
known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any
information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from
the publishers.
Trademark Notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or
registered trademarks, and are used only for identifi cation and explanation
without intent to infringe.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Lynch, Tom Liam.
The hidden role of software in educational research : policy to practice / by
Tom Liam Lynch.
pages cm. — (Routledge research in education ; 143)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Education—Data processing. 2. Educational evaluation.
3. Telecommunication in education. 4. Education—Standards. I. Title.
LB1028.43.L96 2015
379.1'58—dc23
2015001117
ISBN: 978-1-138-80729-7 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-1-315-75117-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Sabon
by Apex CoVantage, LLC
To my wife, Kerry McKibbin, and our son Declan.
Thank you for your love, patience, understanding,
and presence.
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Contents
List of Figures and Tables xi
Acknowledgements xiii
1 Silicon Bullets in New York 1
2 Introducing Software Studies 21
3 A Critical Imperative for Software Studies in Education 49
4 Methods | Texts, Pixels, and Clicks 74
5 Reimagined Research 99
6 Politicians’ Text Messages 122
7 Where the Machine Stops 142
8 Soft(a)wareness 176
9 Imagining Education After Software 200
Index 215