Nicholas Burbules | |
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Era | Contemporary philosophy |
Region | Western Philosophy |
School | Pragmatism, Analytic |
Main interests
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Philosophy of education Critical Theory Political theory Philosophy of technology |
Nicholas C. Burbules is a Gutgsell Endowed Professor of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership and an affiliate of the Unit for Criticism and Interpretative Theory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He is the director of the Ubiquitous Learning Institute and has served as Editor of the journal Educational Theory since 1991.
Nicholas Burbules earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Grinnell College in 1975, a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy from Stanford University in 1979, and a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Philosophy of Education from Stanford University in 1983.
Nicholas Burbules has been a professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization and Leadership since 1989 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to his work at the University of Illinois, Burbules was a professor in the Department of Educational Studies at the University of Utah.
Nicholas Burbules served as Editor of Educational Theory for more than twenty years, from 1992-2013, helped establish Education Review in 1998, and served as President of the Philosophy of Education Society in 2001. Burbules's publications include six books, eight edited books, and over 130 journal articles or book chapters on topics including dialogue, ethics, technology, educational research, critical theory, educational psychology, social philosophy, and political philosophy. He has been an invited to speak in over ten countries on the topic of technology in education.
Nicholas Burbules' most recent work centers on Ubiquitous Learning, a concept that draws out the emergence of "any time, anywhere" learning potential made possible by increased use of handheld and portable devices, along with pervasive wireless networking. This involves a shift in ubiquity, as the traditional divide between formal and informal contexts of learning breaks down. Technological as well as social, cultural, and institutional changes mean that learning is a continuous possibility across spatial and temporal barriers. Learners of all ages expect, and often need, structured learning opportunities in a "just in time" mode; this puts new meaning and vitality into the traditional idea of "lifelong learning."