Skip to main content

Grappling with Pracademia in Education: Forms, Functions, and Futures

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Professional Development for Practitioners in Academia

Part of the book series: Knowledge Studies in Higher Education ((KSHE,volume 13))

Abstract

This chapter begins by critically examining the origins and possibilities of the concepts of the pracademic and pracademia as both an identity marker and space of operation respectively. Drawing upon the previous scholarly work and reflections of the authors, broader themes and possibilities relating to the form, function, and future of pracademic identities and spaces are explored. Exploring the identities and spaces of pracademia through the lenses of power and agency (Friesen Journal of Professional Capital and Community 7(1):71–82, 2022) emphasises this process of exploration as sense-making and emancipatory in nature. It reveals new insights into forms, functions, and possible futures of the pracademic and pracademia.

This chapter concludes by highlighting how greater conceptualisation of pracademia and the pracademic in the field of education offers both a reflective and futures-oriented framework that can be applied to the interaction of policy, practice, and research, while also speaking to broader concerns of the role and purpose of higher education and the work of those predominantly based in higher education settings for broader society.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 109.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 139.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Andrew, N., & Wilkie, G. (2007). Integrated scholarship in nursing: An individual responsibility or collective undertaking. Nurse Education Today, 27(1), 1–4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Avruch, K., & Nan, S. A. (2013). Introduction: The constraints and opportunities of practicing conflict resolution from academic settings. Negotiation Journal, 29(2), 205–212.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Biesta, G. J. J., & Tedder, M. (2007). Agency and learning in the lifecourse: Towards an ecological perspective. Studies in the Education of Adults, 39, 132–149.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braga, A. A. (2016). The value of ‘pracademics’ in enhancing crime analysis in police departments. Policing, 10(3), 308–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brans, M., & Pattyn, V. (2017). Validating methods for comparing public policy: Perspectives from academics to ‘pracademics’. Journal of Comparative Policy Analysis, 19(4), 303–312.

    Google Scholar 

  • Briscoe, P., Pollock, K., Campbell, C., & Carr-Harris, S. (2015). Finding the sweet spot: Network structures and processes for increased knowledge mobilization. Brock Education Journal, 25(1), 19–34.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brookfield, S. (2017). Becoming a critically reflective teacher (2nd ed.). Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Butler, D., & Schnellert, L. (2008). Bridging the research-to-practice divide: Improving outcomes for students. Education Canada, 48(5), 36–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cameron, D. H. (2005). Teachers working in collaborative structures: A case study of a secondary school in the USA. Educational Management, Administration, & Leadership, 33(3), 311–330.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, P. (2020). Rethinking professional collaboration and agency in a post-pandemic era. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 5(3/4), 337–341.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, C. (2022). Afterward? Moving onwards for developing pracademia and pracademics in education. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 98–108.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, C., Pollock, K., Briscoe, P., Carr-Harris, S., & Tuters, S. (2017). Developing a knowledge network for applied education research to mobilise evidence in and for educational practice. Educational Research, 59(2), 209–227.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chaaban, Y., Sellami, A., Sawalhi, R., & Elkhouly, M. (2022). Exploring perceptions of pracademics in an Arab context. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 83–97.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, C., Chestnutt, H., Friel, N., Hall, S., & Lowden, K. (2016). Professional capital and collaborative inquiry networks for educational equity and improvement? Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 1(3), 178–197.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cobb, P., & Bowers, J. (1999). Cognitive and situated learning perspectives in theory and practice. Educational Researcher, 28(2), 4–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cochran-Smith, M., & Lytle, S. (1999). Relationships of knowledge and practice: Teacher learning in communities. Review of Research in Education. https://doi.org/10.2307/1167272

  • Cochran-Smith, M., & Lytle, S. (2009). Inquiry as stance: Practitioner research for the next generation. Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooper, A., Rodway, J., & Read, R. (2018). Knowledge mobilization practices of educational researchers across Canada. Canadian Journal of Higher Education/Revue canadienne d’enseignement superieur, 48(1), 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dewey, J. (1938). Logic: The theory of inquiry. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dunne, J. (1997). Back to the rough ground: Practical judgement and the lure of technique. University of Notre Dame Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Fenwick, T. (2014). Sociomateriality in medical practice and learning: Attuning to what matters. Medical Education, 48(1), 44–52.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Friesen, S. L. (2022). Dwelling in liminal spaces: Twin moments of the same reality. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 71–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaventa, J. (2003). Power after Lukes: An overview of theories of power since Lukes and their application to development. Participation Group, Institute of Development Studies. https://www.powercube.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/power_after_lukes.pdf

    Google Scholar 

  • Goodlad, J. I. (1975). The dynamics of educational change. McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greene, M. (1978). Landscapes of learning. Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrison, N., & Luckett, K. (2019). Experts, knowledge and criticality in the age of ‘alternative facts’: Re-examining the contribution of higher education. Teaching in Higher Education, 24(3), 259–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hetherington, L. (2013). Complexity thinking and methodology: The potential of ‘complex case study’ for educational research. Complicity: An International Journal of Complexity and Education, 10(1/2), 71–85.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holland, D., Lachicotte, W., Skinner, D., & Cain, C. (1998). Identity and agency in cultural worlds. Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollweck, T. (2018). A pracademic’s exploration of mentoring, coaching, and induction in the Western Quebec school board. CollectivEd, 4, 31–40.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollweck, T., & Doucet, A. (2020). Pracademics in the pandemic: Pedagogies and professionalism. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 5(3/4), 295–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollweck, T., Netolicky, D. M., & Campbell, P. (2022a). Guest editorial: Pracademia: Exploring the possibilities, power and politics of boundary-spanners straddling the worlds of practice and scholarship. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 1–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hollweck, T., Netolicky, D. M., & Campbell, P. (2022b). Defining and exploring pracademia: Identity, community, and engagement. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 6–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jansson, S. M., Benoit, C., Casey, L., Phillips, R. I., & Burns, D. (2010). In for the long haul: Knowledge translation between academic and nonprofit organizations. Qualitative Health Research, 20(1), 131–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kolber, S., & Heggart, K. (2022). Education focused pracademics on twitter: Building democratic fora. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 26–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krishnan, A. (2009). What are academic disciplines? Some observations on the disciplinarity vs. Interdisciplinarity debate. https://eprints.ncrm.ac.uk/id/eprint/783/

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, T. (2002). Negotiating boundaries between scholars and practitioners. Management Communication Quarterly, 16(1), 106–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • LaPorte, T., & Opp, S. M. (2016). APSA pracademic fellowship: The third epoch: A pracademic view of the EPA’s office of policy. Political Science and Policy, 49(4), 923–926.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, A. (1992). The meaning of scholarly activity and the building of community. Educational Researcher, 21(6), 5–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, A., Campbell, C., & Yashkina, A. (2016). Teacher learning and leadership: Of, by, and for teachers. Routledge.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Lyotard, J. F. (1984). The postmodern condition: A report on knowledge. University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macduff, N., & Netting, F. E. (2010). The importance of being pracademic. International Journal of Volunteer Administration, 27(1), 43–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mazzocchi, F. (2006). Western science and traditional knowledge: Despite their variations, different forms of knowledge can learn from each other. EMBO Reports, 7(5), 463–466.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, M. P., & Mooney, C. Z. (2011). ‘Pracademics’: Mixing an academic career with practical politics: Editors’ introduction. Political Science and Politics, 44(2), 251–253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, A. M., & Fulda, A. (2011). Bridging the gap: Pracademics in foreign policy. PS. Political Science and Politics, 44(2), 279–283.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mynott, J. P., & Zimmatore, M. (2022). Pracademic productive friction: Boundary crossing and pressure points. Journal of Professional Capital and Community, 7(1), 45–56.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Netolicky, D. M. (2016). Coaching for professional growth in one Australian school: “Oil in water”. International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, 5(2), 66–86.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Netolicky, D. M. (2018). Elevating the professional identities and voices of teachers and school leaders in educational research, practice and policymaking. In D. M. Netolicky, J. Andrews, & C. Paterson (Eds.), Flip the system Australia (1st ed., pp. 9–18). Routledge.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Netolicky, D. M. (2020). Transformational professional learning: Making a difference in schools. Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Panda, A. (2014). Bringing academic and corporate worlds closer: We need pracademics. Management and Labour Studies, 39(2), 140–159.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Posner, P. L. (2009). The pracademic: An agenda for re-engaging practitioners and academics. Public Budgeting and Finance, 29(1), 12–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Powell, E., Winfield, G., Schatteman, A., & Trusty, K. (2018). Collaboration between practitioners and academics: Defining the pracademic experience. Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, 8, 62–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reed, M. I. (2009). The theory/practice gap: A problem for research in business schools? Journal of Management Development, 28, 685–693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runkle, K. (2014). I am an environmental health pracademic (and so can you!). Journal of Environmental Health, 76(10), 42–43.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlager, M., & Fusco, J. (2003). Teacher professional development, technology, and communities of practice: Are we putting the cart before the horse? The Information Society – TIS, 19(3), 203–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, A. K. (2013). Pracademics: Making negotiation theory implemented, interdisciplinary, and international. International Journal of Conflict Engagement and Resolution, 1(2), 108–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Susskind, L. (2013). Confessions of a pracademic: Searching for a virtuous cycle of theory building, teaching, and action research. Negotiation Journal, 29(2), 225–237.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tseng, V. (2012). The uses of research in policy and practice. Social Policy Report, 26(2), 1–24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Volpe, M. R., & Chandler, D. (2001). Resolving and managing conflicts in academic communities: The emerging role of the ‘pracademic’. Negotiation Journal, 17, 245–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vrentas, C., Freiwirth, J., Benatti, S., Hill, C., & Yurasek, A. (2018). Bridging the divide between the research and practitioners sectors: A new collaborative initiative between the alliance for nonprofit management and the association for research on nonprofit organizations and voluntary action: Pracademics section. Journal of Nonprofit Education and Leadership, 8(1), 93–103.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vukovic, S. (2017). A “pracademic” jewel: A review of book conflict management in international missions: A field guide, by Olav Ofstad. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 23(1), 101–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walker, D. (2010, October 10–13). Being a pracademic–combining reflective practice with scholarship [Conference presentation]. AIPM Conference, Darwin, Australia. https://leishman.conferenceservices.net/resources/266/2110/pdf/AIPM2010_0092.pdf

  • Wenger, E. (1998). Communities of practice. Cambridge University Press.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wenger-Trayner, E., & Wenger-Trayner, B. (2015). Learning in a landscape of practice: A framework. In E. Wenger-Trayner, M. Fenton-O’Creevy, S. Hutchinson, C. Kubiak, & B. Wenger-Trayner (Eds.), Learning in landscapes of practice: Boundaries, identity, and knowledgeability in practice-based learning (pp. 13–10). Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Willis, J. J. (2016). The romance of police pracademics. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 10(3), 315–321.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, B. (2019). ‘Pracs’ and ‘demics’: Identifying pracademic subtypes in family mediation and other disciplines. SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3404962 or https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3404962

  • Wyse, D., Brown, C., Oliver, S., & Poblete, X. (2020). Education research and educational practice: The qualities of a close relationship. British Educational Research Journal, 47(6), 1466–1489. https://doi.org/10.1002/berj.3626

  • Xu, X. (2017). Researchers’ positioning: Insider or outsider? The Morning Watch: Educational and Social Analysis, 44(1–2 Fall), 1–6.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Campbell, P., Hollweck, T., Netolicky, D.M. (2023). Grappling with Pracademia in Education: Forms, Functions, and Futures. In: Dickinson, J., Griffiths, TL. (eds) Professional Development for Practitioners in Academia. Knowledge Studies in Higher Education, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33746-8_6

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33746-8_6

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-33745-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-33746-8

  • eBook Packages: EducationEducation (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics