In this conceptual article, we discuss the idea of students' epistemic agency as an overlooked link between assessment, knowledge and society. We transcend the contemporary discourses around assessment that focus on its authenticity and student-centredness and instead investigate assessment from the viewpoints of knowledge and knowing. This…

The will to have freedom and to experience equality in learning form a vital relation to our capacity to make choices in life. This article offers a comparison between Sartre and Rancière that is new to the field of research in education and contributes an argument for a relational philosophy of freedom and equality. Existentialist insights into…

Transformative professional learning is connected to educational and social transformation and possibilities for critical forms of teacher professionalism. Examining and fostering this connection requires greater conceptual clarity about these constructs and how they are enacted. A conceptual review, combining narrative and systematic methods, was…

Caste-based discrimination persists as a formidable barrier within Indian higher education, compelling Dalit students to employ university spaces not only for learning but as arenas for activism and social change. This dissertation explores the agency of Dalit students as they confront and dismantle systemic inequalities through strategic…

The significance of social justice in education has become increasingly important, as education plays a crucial role in empowering individuals and fostering a dynamic environment that promotes awareness of social justice issues. This study focuses on exploring social justice education (SJE) within the context of Türkiye, where research in this…

Geographers have long advocated for decolonizing geographic research and curriculum to produce forms of anti-oppressive knowledge and learning. While these calls have become more prominent in recent years, these conversations are rarely translated into a reflection on pedagogy and how we integrate anti-oppressive teaching in the classroom. This…

In this paper, we outline how science teachers might engage in the work of creating educational equity. While acknowledging the historical inherent inequities associated with issues of access, opportunities to engage in science learning for individuals of marginalized identities (e.g., BIPOC individuals and women), and achievement, we broaden this…

This new conceptualization of youth success draws from more than 180 sources and makes an argument for new definitions to propel practice and policy that addresses educational and racial equity. The paper: (1) Introduces a formula and a rationale for addressing thriving, equity, and learning and development together that helps us better focus on…

There is a well-established area of work in mathematics education focusing on mathematics for social justice. Much of the work, however, is concerned with "individual" students' understanding the world symbolically -- as evident in the notions of reading and writing the world using mathematics -- while failing to address a transformative…

Inspired by critical literacy practices, sixth-grade students at Carter Elementary designed, curated, and publicly displayed a museum exhibit to expose and confront issues of social justice. Through this case study of one display within the exhibit, we analyze the ideas and stances represented in each of its artifacts and investigate how,…

In this paper, we provide a conceptual critique of the various constructs often used to justify policies and/or research to promote equity, diversity and social justice in science education. As research expands in these areas, we seek to provide some clarity to support researchers in deepening their work toward transformative goals in science…

The purpose of this study was to investigate processes that led practicing music educators in a graduate course to examine their beliefs and practices regarding inclusion, responsiveness, equity, and justice. Using Charmaz's constructivist approach to grounded theory, we interviewed 22 participants from MUS 8XX: Philosophy of Music Education.…

Scholars and practitioners alike often assume that discomfort is a necessary and productive aspect of the college experience. We used a range of theories grounded in the concept of dissonance to question these assumptions and critically analyze the role of discomfort in collegiate learning and development for today's diverse college student…

This qualitative case study examines how fifth graders and their teachers participated in critical literacy instruction grounded in systems thinking on the topic of slavery. Systems thinking seeks to discover relationships and patterns in diverse underlying systems; critical literacy examines everyday texts, focuses on social justice and change,…

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Associated Schools Network is an international organization that can help teachers and students learn more about practical ways to apply social justice themes at an academic, personal, social, and global level. Learning processes are holistic and multi-dimensional within…