Socially-critical Environmental Education in Primary Classrooms The Dance of Structure and Agency

This book provides a practical application of Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration to a particular field of educational research, namely, Education for Sustainable Development. It assists educational researchers, educators and educational institutions to bridge the gaps between current educational practices and the rhetoric and best practices of Education for Sustainable Development. The volume draws on research, guided by Giddens, to:

· highlight the potential of Anthony Giddens’ theory of structuration, an approach not yet well-established in the field of educational research, to provide new and valuable insights into the factors that shape educational practices.

· provide practical guidance to the use of this new approach to educational research.

· provide a new perspective on the nature of the gap between the rhetoric, and the reality, of Education for Sustainability in Australian primary schools.

· provide new perspectives on issues facing educational institutions aiming to introduce effective Education for Sustainable Development, particularly in relation to the need for teachers to adopt new pedagogical practices

· demonstrate that Giddens’ theory of structuration is a valuable framework that can contribute to the development of new understandings in the field of educational research.​