Linda Mitchell (educator)

Linda Mary Mitchell is a New Zealand academic, and is a full professor at the University of Waikato, specialising in early childhood education, education policy, and education internationally.

Linda Mitchell
Academic background
Alma materVictoria University of Wellington
Thesis
Doctoral advisor
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Waikato

Academic career

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Mitchell completed a Bachelor's degree in education at Victoria University of Wellington, followed by a Master of Education Research at the University of Lancaster. She returned to Victoria to complete a PhD titled A New Debate About Children and Childhood. Could it Make a Difference to Early Childhood Pedagogy and Policy?.[1][2] Mitchell then joined the faculty of the University of Waikato, rising to full professor in 2019.[3] She researches within the Wilf Malcolm Institute of Education, and is Director of the Early Years Research Centre. Mitchell was Leverhulme Visiting Professor at Manchester Metropolitan University in 2022 and 2023, working with Frances Press on democratic education across different contexts.[2]

Mitchell is critical of privatisation and profit-making in the early childhood sector, and some of her books and articles lay out ways in which education can be made more democratic.[2][4][5][6] With Bronwen Cowie, Mitchell leads research on a two-year Teaching and Learning Research Initiative, and Mitchell leads a team that was awarded a Marsden grant in 2017.[7][8] These grants were both concerned with increasing belonging (mana whenua) for migrant and immigrant families through early childhood experiences, and resulted in the production of materials for use in multicultural ECE settings.[7][9] Mitchell has also worked on the impact of COVID-19 on the early childhood education sector.[2]

Selected works

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Books

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  • Peter Moss and Linda Mitchell. Early Childhood in the Anglosphere: Systemic failings and transformative possibilities. UCL Press (2024) ISBN 9781800082533
  • Michel Vandenbroeck, Joanne Lehrer, Linda Mitchell. The Decommodification of Early Childhood Education and Care Resisting Neoliberalism. Routledge (2023) ISBN 9781032110301
  • Linda Mitchell. Democratic Policies and Practices in Early Childhood Education: An Aotearoa New Zealand Case Study. (2019) Springer Singapore. ISBN 9789811346866
  • Wendy Lee, Margaret Carr, Brenda Soutar, Linda Mitchell. Understanding the Te Whariki approach: Early years education in practice Routledge (2013) ISBN 9780415617130

Other

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  • Linda Mitchell, Cathy Wylie, Margaret Carr. Outcomes of early childhood education: Literature review. New Zealand Council for Educational Research (2008)
  • Linda Mitchell, Pam Cubey. Characteristics of professional development linked to enhanced pedagogy and children's learning in early childhood settings: Best evidence synthesis Ministry of Education (2003)
  • Linda Mitchell Assessment practices and aspects of curriculum in early childhood education. Wellington: New Zealand Council for Educational Research (2008)
  • Linda Mitchell. Differences between community owned and privately owned early childhood education and care centres: A review of evidence NZCER (2002)

References

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  1. ^ Mitchell, Linda (2007). A New Debate About Children and Childhood. Could it Make a Difference to Early Childhood Pedagogy and Policy? (PhD thesis). Open Access Repository Victoria University of Wellington. doi:10.26686/WGTN.16934479.
  2. ^ a b c d "Academic profile: Professor Linda Mitchell". profiles.waikato.ac.nz. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  3. ^ communications@waikato.ac.nz (29 January 2019). "Professorial appointments announced". www.waikato.ac.nz. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  4. ^ "Linda Mitchell: Now is the time for a reset on early childhood education". NZ Herald. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Opinion | ECE should be a public concern". NZ Herald. 4 March 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  6. ^ "The changes early childhood education needs rather than tax rebates". www.thepost.co.nz. 2 January 2024. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b "Constructing pathways to belonging in early childhood education". Science Learning Hub. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Search Marsden awards 2008–2017". Royal Society Te Apārangi. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
  9. ^ Strengthening belonging – research insights, retrieved 4 March 2024