The language of pedagogical partnership: A cross-context analysis of student partner and program facilitator perspectives

Abstract

Pedagogical partnership work continues to proliferate on college and university campuses around the world, and yet the language used in and about this work is still very much evolving. This exploratory study drew on surveys of student partners and program facilitators at institutions across contexts to learn about three related ways language is used: (a) to ensure respectful exchanges between student and faculty/staff partners within partnership programs, (b) to make pedagogical partnership work legible to those on campus not involved in the work, and (c) to communicate with prospective employers and others. Writing as a program facilitator and experienced student partner, we present findings from this study not to generalize or to compare institutional contexts and practices but rather to offer glimpses into the ways that student partners and program facilitators develop and use language to name partnership work that can inform ongoing explorations of this topic