Month: December 2023

Monday 25th September
In person

It’s great to see familiar faces back in person and catch up on all our news. As a group we discuss our APR projects, specifically the questions we are posing. Francesco is creating design for social change – I should consider interviewing him for my APR project. The PgCert is on two levels, firstly I am a student, on another level we are all colleagues.  

Tim our tutor is also a student, doing his PhD. We participate in an ice breaker activity choosing three pieces of wool the same length but in different colours. In an almost meditative state, we consider activities that resonate for us with our students – arriving, being in the room, nervousness about all that is to come in this unit. Using embodied cognition we think about our worries, care and concerns such as crossing the picket line this morning to come into the building, what should we do for our APR, today’s news etc.

Thoughts – What are you thinking about? Any thoughts? Tie a knot.

Feelings – What are you feeling? Neutral, excited, sad? I am happy, today is sunny, unit 2 went well. I had good news that I can rebook the flight I have vouchers for. Tie a knot for each of these.

Sensations – What have you noticed? If you notice any sensations. Tie a knot. Are you too hot or cold? Do your shoes feel comfortable? Are you comfortable? Have you eaten enough? Tie a knot.

Consider – The quality of your thoughts & the number of thoughts since you first started this activity.

We meet Frederico, he is a sociologist teaching on the research methodologies MA. He reminds us: You are all experts, you know your field, you are in a position of power and agency. Remember your positionality. Challenge yourself to really do the work you want to do. This unit is only three months, you have a limited amount of time spare. Remember to be respectful, listen to each other, give supportive feedback. The in-person sessions are an opportunity to share your thoughts, be supportive and kind. Use Mondays to do your work – the time will go quickly.

APR principles

• Everyone is an expert
• Develop critical friendships
• Ask respectful questions
• Facilitate each other’s learning
• Be kind, compassionate, active listening
• Supportive responding
• Take a break, embrace silence
• Teaching, practice – pace yourself: little by little
• Ask questions

This is an opportunity to develop your thinking, research for your practice. It’s a space to experiment, to explore or test something – it can be connected to further work you want to do. Try something new – you’ve always wanted to try out. Reflect – why did I do it this way? What have I learned by doing this in a particular way? Open new ways of doing. Getting to know your context. I tried something out, it was relevant for me, for my students. ,I know more of who I am through this research. Research shows us who we – conveys our political leanings, our moral standing etc the external things we do as academics. Remember to do something small.

We discuss the importance of critical friendship as a group, this requires trust, critical intimacy & support. Look at Bell Hooks and Paulo Freire. Also, the relationship between the founder of Shades of Noir and Terry Finnigan who worked together, developing citizen and civic friendship and solidarity.

Today, leave with a sense of direction, my next steps, what do I need to do.

 APR

• Small scale enquiry (such as interviewing 3 people, Rachel, George, Francesco)
• Masters level research
• PhD study
• Research excellence framework – able to research 

This is the time to explore an issue you have found in your teaching practice that is relevant for you. It must also relate to the Ual shared principles for climate and social justice.

It’s all about the process

• Why am I identifying this issue?
• How do I want to explore it?
• Who do I want to speak to?

24^th September

DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN YOUR PRACTICE

I need to choose a focus for this unit that relates to my teaching practise, research interests and disciplinary practice. I must consider both a philosophical and methodological approach, simultaneous involving both action and inquiry. Experiment with creative and innovative methods. Map my existing understanding & experience of my chosen subject. I must pose a research question and determine a well-defined scope & feasibility within the time frame of the unit – around 10 weeks for my project. Further my knowledge, planning, execution, documenting and reflecting on my intervention throughout this process. While referencing codes of practise for ethical research, considering my participants needs and make sure I meet their duty of care. I need to experiment with different methods such as observation, journaling, visualisation, narrative enquiry, enhanced interviews and ethical research. Consider the ethical implications of who will be involved and what they will be expected to do. Using innovation as a creative unsettling of my own practise, reflect on what my own positionality embodies and practise as a researcher. The purpose of the Action Research Project is dedicated to conducting academic research to enhance the student experience of Higher Education in a teaching and learning environment. We are asked to undertake a small-scale social / climate / racial justice orientated intervention with an emphasis on reflection and planning future iterations. At each stage of the project, we need to define the scope, identify appropriate action, document analysis and reflect on relevant reference resources to help narrow the focus of the fine detail in our projects, while addressing an issue I have identified in my teaching and learning practice. Throughout the unit, my tutor groups colleagues will support each other to develop our projects while mapping our coursework and teaching practice against the professional standards framework to support an application to gain a Fellowship of Advanced Education. I will present my work to my cohort to share my practice and stimulate contemplation on where this project could develop in the future.

Areas to consider for the ARP;

1. Original context or background
2. Rationale for the selected the topic
3. Reflection on research methods used
4. References to relevant literature using the Harvard method
5. Documented research: journaling and presentation materials on your blog
6. Presentation documents: notes, visuals and slides
7. Blogs will be considered alongside the final presentation
8. Summary of project findings

Question: As a lecturer in GB&I BA (Hons) How can I embed a sense of social justice particularly climate change into the culture of our course on multiple levels? Something craft based & handmade?

The first session in person will consider scoping workshop methods including question writing AND goal setting. I need to start something new. Start with the plan. Phrase your idea as a question. Consider visual forms of seeing as research. Art based methods such as creative writing poetry or even songs. Watch Helen Kara arts-based methods on YouTube. Read books on visual methods of collecting research. Explore ways of seeing, observing and reflecting. Doing a thing and seeing what happens. I need to put into place something I have planned.

Use your blog as a research journal for the following;

• Process notes
• Timings
• Show how your project has progressed
• Various reflections
• Notes on reading
• Ethical approval documentation
• Details of data collection methods & tools such as interviews, schedules, questionnaires
• A Harvard referenced bibliography reflecting on your reading into your both your topic area and your data collection methods
• Final presentation slides

ACTION RESEARCH CYCLE

‘There are four basic stages in the cyclical action research process: reflect, plan, act, observe, and then reflect to continue through the cycle.’ (Dickens & Watkins, 1999).

• ACT with purpose
• OBSERVE & document what happens
• REFLECT on events
• PLAN what to do next
• You can start anywhere       

Consider arts-based methods for research;

Planning

• Mind maps
• Timelines

Reflecting

• Screenplay writing
• Poetic writing
• Metaphor analysis

Observing

• Maps / diagrams
• Journals
• Drawing / painting / collage
• Enhanced interviews
• Photographs

Create a critical path for planning such as a Gantt chart

A Gannt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. Consider what tasks depend on another task. Planning, writing, editing, creating artwork, final changes, printing etc. Map a timeline of what I need to do and note the weeks of the unit. Consider reading that support these actions. I need enhanced intentions – more than just words, include images, maps, focus groups.

Reflection

Once you’ve done your thing, documented observations, what do you do with the data? Creative or fictional methods, say something new about it. Write a screenplay from some data you’ve collated – conversations with staff or students. Delete words so you are left with a poetic set.

OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS

Ethical research

• Look at guidelines
• Consent
• Transparency
• Right to withdraw
• Incentives
• Harm arising from participation in research
• Privacy and data storage

NB Look at the padlet for approaches and methods for research.

Action research is based on certain principles – those of justice and democracy. The right for all people to be heard and to speak, the right for each individual to show how and why they have given extra attention to their learning, in order to improve their work, the deep need to experience truth and beauty in our personal and professional lives. I read the Jean McNiff text – What is action research? Who does it? How do I ‘action research’? Action planning & research is good for social order, stimulating caring, creative, critical conversations. The power of sharing ideas to generate new ones and using technology to make those freely accessible to all. Look at www.actionresearch.net or www.jeanmcniff.com.