In this paper we explore the phenomenon of writing online. We ask, "Is writing by means of online technologies affected in a manner that differs significantly from the older technologies of pen on paper, typewriter, or even the word processor in an off-line environment?" In writing online, the author is engaged in a spatial complexity of physical,…

Starting high school can be a challenging but also exciting time for students. The focus of this paper lies with students' experiences of transition into secondary school. Sixteen students from one government school in New South Wales kept a journal for their first ten weeks in high school as a way of recording their experiences. Their journal…

Catharine Macaulay, an 18th century English historian, published her educational philosophy in "Letters on Education with Observations on Religious and Metaphysical Subjects" in 1790. The ultimate goal of her educational process, to "bring the human mind to such a height of perfection as shall induce the practice of the best morals", (Macaulay,…

This paper employs an eclectic mix of paradigms in order to discuss constituting characteristics of young children's learning experiences. Drawing upon a phenomenological perspective it examines learning as a form of "Being" and as the result of learners' engagement with the world in their own, unique, intentional manners. The learners' intentions…

Little of the work in critical and hermeneutical psychology has been linked to instructional technology (IT). This article provides a discussion in order to fill the gap in this direction. The article presents a brief genealogy of American IT in relation to the influence of psychology. It also provides a critical and hermeneutical framework for…

Whereas present theories of transformative learning tend to focus on the rational and reflective actor, in this article it is suggested that spontaneous action may play a decisive role in transformative learning too. In the spontaneity of action, novelty finds its way into life, gains momentum, is respected by others and reflected by the actor.…

Contemporary education now appears to be dominated by the continual drive for improvement measured against the assessment of what students have learned. It is our contention that a foundational relation with assessment organises contemporary education. Here we draw on a "way of thinking" that is deconstructive in its intent. Such thinking makes…

Constructivism claims to be a postepistemology that replaces "traditional" concepts of knowledge. Supporters of constructivism have argued that progress requires that pre-service teachers be weaned off traditional approaches and that they should adopt constructivist views of knowledge. Constructivism appears to be gaining ground rapidly and should…

This article presents the official record of The Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA). The Society faces a number of continuing challenges. It maintains its record for holding conferences that meet the needs of its members, has resumed publication of conference proceedings, but this has largely been superseded by the placing of…

Having spent two years of study in Philosophy of Education under R. S. Peters, 1967-1968, the author returned to Sydney University determined to do two things: first to initiate evening seminars similar to the high-level and stimulating Wednesday night meetings, held at the London Institute of Education; and second, to commence a Philosophy of…

In this article, the author shares his experience as a lecturer in Anna Hogg's Department at Sydney Teachers College, where he became involved at the very beginning of Bill Andersen's and Anna's (and Les Brown's) efforts to form what was to become Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA). The author provides a brief overview of PESA…

As the author thinks back over his association with Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA), particularly during the 1970s and 1980s when he was most active in the organization, three themes emerge. First, the author feels immense gratitude for the many good friends and colleagues whose company he found both enjoyable and…

Bruce Haynes ponders why "a self-appointed steering committee ..." produced a draft constitution for adoption at the first meeting in 1970. The author suspects that it had to do not only with the ideas of the people so appointed, but with the fact that Richard Peters spent several months at ANU in 1969 and, the author presumes, was invited to…

In retrospect, Anselm's motto "fides quaerens intellectum" (faith seeking understanding) could fairly be taken to reflect the author's life's journey, beginning with a period of intellectual rebellion against the faith of his Methodist parents as he was entering adolescence. At the age of 14, however, in a revelatory moment, and unbeknown to…

In this article, the author shares his experiences as one of few Philosophy of Education Society of Australasia (PESA) members and describes how he came to know about PESA. The author recounts an event during his period as president of PESA in 1986 and his efforts to promote and establish some form of international membership of various philosophy…