The calculated management of life and all that jazz: gaming quality assurance practices in English further education

Journal article

Beighton, Christian and Naz, Zahid 2023. The calculated management of life and all that jazz: gaming quality assurance practices in English further education. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2023.2192907

Publication dates
Authors	Beighton, Christian and Naz, Zahid
Abstract	This paper examines emerging discourses and practices of quality assurance in English Further Education (FE), a sector currently undergoing significant change. Using a broadly ethnographic approach and Foucauldian theories of power, we discuss how ‘documentisation’ contributes to governance techniques in a specific institutional context. Documentisation, the transformation of concrete practice into discourse, reverses a common-sense view of the role of policy documentation and exemplifies a wide range of practices in both FE and the wider post-16 sector and includes the gamification of quality systems. Our analysis of the conditions and practices out of which the phenomenon appears identifies processes that are shaping present-day experiences and redefining the discourse of quality itself. Moreover, rather than situating compliance and/or resistance in practice per se, we argue that it is within the conditions of possibility expressed by such processes that the intertwining of compliance and resistance can best be appreciated.
Keywords	Education; Quality assurance ; Foucault; Complexity; Normalisation ; Documentisation
Year	2023
Journal	Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education
Publisher	Taylor & Francis
ISSN	0159-6306
	1469-3739
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)	https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2023.2192907
Official URL	https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01596306.2023.2192907
Online	04 Apr 2023
Publication process dates
Deposited	13 Apr 2023
Publisher's version	beightonnaz.pdf License CC BY-NC-ND 4.0
Output status	Published
License	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Page range	1-15

Permalink -

https://repository.canterbury.ac.uk/item/945wy/the-calculated-management-of-life-and-all-that-jazz-gaming-quality-assurance-practices-in-english-further-education

Download files

Publisher's version

	beightonnaz.pdf
License: CC BY-NC-ND 4.0

9
total views
2
total downloads
1
views this month
0
downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Under pressure: inspection regimes and the institutionalisation of failure

Beighton, C. and Naz, Z. 2023. Under pressure: inspection regimes and the institutionalisation of failure . Canterbury Christ Church University.

Three policy problems: Biocreep and the extension of biopolitical administration

Beighton, C. and Powell, H. 2023. Three policy problems: Biocreep and the extension of biopolitical administration. Journal of Education Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/02680939.2023.2200387

Spectacular disconnections 2022: from Partygate to the Schools White Paper

Beighton, C. 2022. Spectacular disconnections 2022: from Partygate to the Schools White Paper. CCCU website

Why so surprised? A very brief history of sexual harassment in schools

Beighton, C. Why so surprised? A very brief history of sexual harassment in schools .

A Chilling Debate? Cultivating free speech on campus

Beighton, C. A Chilling Debate? Cultivating free speech on campus .

The politics of quality improvement: exploring the complexity of teaching and learning practices in Further Education

Naz, Z. 2021. The politics of quality improvement: exploring the complexity of teaching and learning practices in Further Education. PhD Thesis Canterbury Christ Church University School of Teacher Education

A break or a lesson? Submarines, stereotypes and silent geopolitics

Beighton, C. 2021. A break or a lesson? Submarines, stereotypes and silent geopolitics. Canterbury Christ Church University.

(Un)trustworthy organisations? Implications of the Sarah Everard murder case

Beighton, C. 2021. (Un)trustworthy organisations? Implications of the Sarah Everard murder case. Canterbury Christ Church University.

Powerful knowledge? Challenging neoliberal trends in FE policy and practice

Beighton, C. and Naz, Z. 2021. Powerful knowledge? Challenging neoliberal trends in FE policy and practice . Canterbury Christ Church University.

Convergent correlationism: analyzing teacher educators’ reflection on professional practice

Beighton, Christian 2021. Convergent correlationism: analyzing teacher educators’ reflection on professional practice. Reflective Practice. 22 (6), pp. 796-808. https://doi.org/10.1080/14623943.2021.1976629

Language teaching after COVID: real world priorities

Beighton, C. and Rusbridge, I. 2021. Language teaching after COVID: real world priorities.

Biopolitics and lifelong learning: the vitalistic turn in English further education discourse

Beighton, Christian 2021. Biopolitics and lifelong learning: the vitalistic turn in English further education discourse. International Journal of Lifelong Education. 40 (3), pp. 229-243. https://doi.org/10.1080/02601370.2021.1946863

0 Sapere Aude

Beighton, C. 2021. 0 Sapere Aude .

Sapere Aude - enlightenment values and academic cancel culture

Beighton, C. 2021. Sapere Aude - enlightenment values and academic cancel culture.

Sapere Aude: Enlightenment ideas, values and slogans and academic cancel culture

Beighton, C. 2021. Sapere Aude: Enlightenment ideas, values and slogans and academic cancel culture .

Knowing narratives: challenging the spectacle of racist discrimination

Beighton, C. 2021. Knowing narratives: challenging the spectacle of racist discrimination .

Zoom fatigue: online communication platforms and technologies of the self

Beighton, C. 2021. Zoom fatigue: online communication platforms and technologies of the self.

"It’s like very white-winged”: students’ perceptions of the image and reality of Internationalisation in UK Higher Education

Kemiche, Z. and Beighton, C. 2021. "It’s like very white-winged”: students’ perceptions of the image and reality of Internationalisation in UK Higher Education . Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies. 19 (1).

Using photovoice in Participatory educational research

Barry, W. and Beighton, C. 2021. Using photovoice in Participatory educational research. in: SAGE Research Methods Cases Part 1 SAGE.

Language learning in crisis: A dangerous question?

Beighton, C. 2021. Language learning in crisis: A dangerous question? Canterbury Christ Church University.

A trip to the movies: Homo parasiticus and the question of sustainability

Beighton, C. 2021. A trip to the movies: Homo parasiticus and the question of sustainability.

Doing participatory research within diverse locations: conducting collaborative enquiry into complex environments using digital technology

Hazeldine, L. and Beighton, C. 2021. Doing participatory research within diverse locations: conducting collaborative enquiry into complex environments using digital technology. SAGE.

Scenario-based interviews: developing studies of policy and practice

Beighton, C. 2021. Scenario-based interviews: developing studies of policy and practice. SAGE.

Auto-ethnographic approaches to academic writing development: dialogue as a research tool

Beighton, C., Cobb, W. and Welland, H. Auto-ethnographic approaches to academic writing development: dialogue as a research tool. SAGE.

“A cumulative and alienating pattern of repeated slights and insults”: racism, internationalization and ethical vacuity in UK Higher Education

Beighton, C. 2020. “A cumulative and alienating pattern of repeated slights and insults”: racism, internationalization and ethical vacuity in UK Higher Education. Journal for Critical Education Policy Studies. 18 (3).

Researching academic writing: a retroductive approach

Beighton, C. 2020. Researching academic writing: a retroductive approach.

Not just playing catch-up:an agenda for social learning under COVID19

Beighton, C. 2020. Not just playing catch-up:an agenda for social learning under COVID19.

Pandemic panic: COVID and the claustropolitan university?

Beighton, C. 2020. Pandemic panic: COVID and the claustropolitan university? Canterbury Christ Church University.

Xenolexia’s positivity: the alterity of academic writing and its pedagogical implications

Beighton, C. 2020. Xenolexia’s positivity: the alterity of academic writing and its pedagogical implications . Teaching in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2020.1819227

Theorising work-based learning: analysing interview data with deductive reasoning

Beighton, C. 2020. Theorising work-based learning: analysing interview data with deductive reasoning .

Conflict, collaboration and counterpoint: analysing iterative research techniques within the research development narrative.

Beighton, C., Cobb, W. and Welland, H. 2020. Conflict, collaboration and counterpoint: analysing iterative research techniques within the research development narrative.

Narrative of, about, and for troubled times: struggles for the good and beautiful and Pier Paulo Pasolini’s Salò

Beighton, C. 2020. Narrative of, about, and for troubled times: struggles for the good and beautiful and Pier Paulo Pasolini’s Salò .

Blow up dolls and a hammer: is there a place for social learning on the National Firearms Instructors Course?

Beighton, C. and Heath, A. 2019. Blow up dolls and a hammer: is there a place for social learning on the National Firearms Instructors Course? Top Cover: The Police Firearms Officers Association Magazine. (15).

Publish or perish? Using iterative research techniques to trouble the research development narrative.

Beighton, C., Cobb, W. and Welland, H. 2019. Publish or perish? Using iterative research techniques to trouble the research development narrative.

Analysing multimodal data in complex social spaces

Hazeldine, L., Beighton, C. and Hazeldine, G. 2019. Analysing multimodal data in complex social spaces. SAGE.

Reasoning with qualitative data: using retroduction with transcript data

Beighton, C. 2019. Reasoning with qualitative data: using retroduction with transcript data. SAGE. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781526477378

Beyond alienation: spatial implications of teaching and learning academic writing

Beighton, C. 2018. Beyond alienation: spatial implications of teaching and learning academic writing. Teaching in Higher Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2018.1554642

Learning landscapes: prehensions of space in film and their pedagogical implications

Beighton, C. 2018. Learning landscapes: prehensions of space in film and their pedagogical implications.

Criticality, creativity... & catatonia

Beighton, C. 2018. Criticality, creativity... & catatonia.

A transversal university? criticality, creativity and catatonia in the globalised pursuit of higher education excellence.

Beighton, C. 2018. A transversal university? criticality, creativity and catatonia in the globalised pursuit of higher education excellence. in: Cole, D. and Bradley, J. (ed.) Principles of Transversality in Globalization and Education Springer.

Critical ethnography: investigating practice in police firearms training

Beighton, C. 2018. Critical ethnography: investigating practice in police firearms training. in: SAGE Research Methods Cases Part 2 SAGE.

Pedagogies of academic writing in teacher education: from epistemology to practice and back again

Beighton, C. and Blackman, A. 2017. Pedagogies of academic writing in teacher education: from epistemology to practice and back again. 3rd International Conference on Higher Education Advances, HEAd’17. 2017, pp. 169-178. https://doi.org/10.4995/HEAd17.2017.5082

Second language, literacy and teaching: teacher development to support the needs of low educated learners

Delaney, J. and Beighton, C. 2016. Second language, literacy and teaching: teacher development to support the needs of low educated learners.

Expansive learning in professional contexts: a materialist perspective

Beighton, C. 2016. Expansive learning in professional contexts: a materialist perspective. Palgrave Macmillan.

Telling ghost stories with the voice of an ogre Deleuze, identity, and disruptive pedagogies

Beighton, C. 2016. Telling ghost stories with the voice of an ogre Deleuze, identity, and disruptive pedagogies. Issues in Teacher Education. 26 (3), pp. 111-127.

Closed circuit? Flow, influence and the liquid management of learning and skills

Beighton, C. 2015. Closed circuit? Flow, influence and the liquid management of learning and skills. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education. https://doi.org/10.1080/01596306.2015.1128884

A question of degree? An academic future for firearms officers

Beighton, C. and Doody, G. 2016. A question of degree? An academic future for firearms officers. Top Cover: The Journal of the Police Firearms Officers Association. 11.

Moving on? Speed, flow and the liquefaction of lifelong learning

Beighton, C. 2016. Moving on? Speed, flow and the liquefaction of lifelong learning. in: Panitsides, E. and Talbot, J. (ed.) Lifelong Learning: Concepts, Benefits and Challenges USA Nova Science Publishers.

Groundhog day? Nietzsche, Deleuze and the eternal return of prosumption in lifelong learning

Beighton, C. 2016. Groundhog day? Nietzsche, Deleuze and the eternal return of prosumption in lifelong learning. Journal of Consumer Culture. https://doi.org/10.1177/1469540515623607

Expansive learning in police firearms training: developing the interface between HE and professional learning

Beighton, C., Poma, S. and Leonard, V. 2016. Expansive learning in police firearms training: developing the interface between HE and professional learning. in: Phillips, S. and Das, D. (ed.) Change and Reform in Law Enforcement: Old and New Efforts from Across the Globe Abingdon CRC Press.