Field Ecology: A Practical but Imaginable Contestation of Neoliberalism

Authors

Heidi B. Carlone, The University of North CarolinaFollow
Aerin W. Benavides, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow
Lacey D. Huffling, Georgia Southern UniversityFollow
Catherine E. Matthews, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow
Wayne Journell, University of North Carolina at GreensboroFollow
Terry Tomasek, Elon UniversityFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-11-2016

Publication Title

Mind, Culture, and Activity

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/10749039.2016.1194433

ISSN

1532-7884

Abstract

Science education has become a valuable market tool, serving the knowledge economy and technocratic workforce that celebrates individualism, meritocracy, entrepreneurship, rational thought, and abstract knowledge. Field ecology, however, could be a modest, but imaginable contestation of market-driven neoliberal ideology. We explored diverse high school youths’ meaning making of a summer field ecology research experience. Youths’ narratives, elicited with a modified card sort and qualitative interviews, highlight the cognitive, social, emotional, and physical aspects of learning demonstrating considerably broader views of knowledge, meanings of the natural world and their place within it, and access to scientific practices than implied by neoliberalism.

Comments

Taylor and Francis Publishers Rights and Permissions

Recommended Citation

Carlone, Heidi B., Aerin W. Benavides, Lacey D. Huffling, Catherine E. Matthews, Wayne Journell, Terry Tomasek. 2016. "Field Ecology: A Practical but Imaginable Contestation of Neoliberalism." Mind, Culture, and Activity, 23 (3): 199-211: Taylor & Francis Online. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10749039.2016.1194433 source: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10749039.2016.1194433
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/teach-secondary-facpubs/115