Critically Reflexive Practice

Professional practice in recent times has been reconceptualised within an economic rationalist framework. The terms 'professional education', 'in-service education' are frequently used interchangeably. 'Delivery', 'competencies' and 'outcomes' are terms which are part of the new language of transmission models of ongoing professional development and research. The literature however, emphasises the importance of critical reflexivity and collegiality and of careful investigation into professional identities, biographies and critical incidents. This unit of study will develop an expert understanding of the contexts in which professional practice occurs; assist graduate researchers to begin developing researcher-practitioner identities, an understanding of the politics of knowledge and the genre of doctoral academic writing. Graduate researchers will also begin developing intellectual independence through undertaking a critical review of the literature relevant to the professional practice they are planning to research.