Education and Complexity (Introduction)

Abstract

Teachers, researchers, policy makers, and educational managers are all very aware of the complexity of educational processes. Many involved in Education, however, often find it difficult to find a satisfactory language to describe and explore what they are engaging with, particularly in philosophical, theoretical and research terms. Complexity theory, with its focus on the dynamics of interacting systems, its attention to the specifics of local interactions, and its recognition of de-centred, multi-factorial types of causation, is generating increasing interest in this field.