Full Description
This book provides an analysis of how global capitalism, digital disruption, and new worlds of work have reshaped ideas about language, literacy and numeracy (foundation) skills in a neoliberal foundation skills apparatus in Australia since the 1980s.
The book uses Michel Foucault's genealogical approach to producing critical 'histories of our present'. From this perspective it examines how these disruptions have transformed what was once a voluntary, not-for-profit community 'movement' of education for migrants and marginalised people into a sophisticated government, community, and for-profit training and skills sector which imagines foundation skills learners as choice making consumers.
Contents
Acknowledgements
List of Illustrations
Abbreviations
Prelude: Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Value Proposition of Being Human
1 Garry's Story: Part 1
2 Garry's Story: Part 2
3 A Conversation between Peter and ChatGPT: Part 1
4 Garry's Story: Part 3
5 A Conversation between Peter and ChatGPT: Part 2
1 Developing a Genealogy of the Problem of Foundation Skills
1 Introduction
2 The Changing Nature of Language and Literacy as Foundation Skills
3 The Emergence of Foundation Skills as a Skills Market in Australia
4 Genealogy as a Critical History of Thought
5 Apparatus and Governmentality
6 Our Toolbox
7 Structure of the Book
2 Neoliberal Capitalism and the 'Problem' of Foundation Skills
1 Introduction
2 The Emergence of Neoliberal Markets in Australia
3 Globalisation, Flexible Capitalism: Changing Labour Markets and a New World of Work
4 Discussion: Individual Responsibility and the Neoliberal Template for Social Policy
3 The Neoliberal Foundation Skills Apparatus
1 Introduction
2 The Historical Moment of Urgent Need: Policy, Surveys and Mutual Obligation
3 Strategic Function of the Apparatus: Resistance, Regulation and Transcendent Possibilities
4 The Elements of the Apparatus: Characteristics and the Nature of Their Connection
5 The Foundation Skills Apparatus: Debates and Truth Claims
4 Creating a Skills Market: The Marketisation and Commodification of Foundation Skills
1 Introduction
2 Foundation Skills as a Commodity: Students, Funding, Knowledge and Skills
3 Hidden Privatisation: The Victorian Training Guarantee
4 Discussion: Policy Change and Reflexive Governance
5 The Choice-making Learner as a Customer: The Individualisation and Responsibilisation of Foundation Skills
1 Introduction
2 The Emergence of Individualisation and Responsibilisation in Foundation Skills
3 The Impact of Individualisation and Responsibilisation at the Program Level
4 Discussion: The Subjugation (and Responsibilisation) of Socio-Economic Disadvantage in the Foundation Skills Apparatus
6 A History of the Future of Foundation Skills
1 A History of the Present of Foundation Skills
2 A History of the Future of Foundation Skills
Bibliography
Index