Experiencing culture of everyday life by international exchange students. Perspective of arts-based research

The text is an attempt to introduce and initiate a research project which focuses on experiencing the culture of daily living by international exchange students. The authors present major theoretical reflections on the issues of experience and culture of everyday life; they also characterize the community of student– participants of international exchange programs. (Re)cognition and understanding of experience is a methodological challenge, especially in regard to dialogue-oriented intercultural education. The authors decided to explore the issue, using arts-based research. In this model, the role of researchers-facilitators is to introduce the respondents into the research process by inviting them to participate in joint activities focusing on cognitive, artistic, social, and educational objectives. Such participation and cooperation are supposed to result in generating critical knowledge necessary to improve the respondents’ daily life. In the last part of the text, the authors conduct an initial analysis of the selected international exchange programs. The goal of the characteristics of ERASMUS, ISEP, AIESEC, CEEPUS programs is to outline the official objectives and priorities assigned to formal education. In this perspective, when planning their original research, the authors asked the following question: How are these priorities present, as complementary to non-formal education, in experiencing the culture of everyday life by exchange students

Students' resistance in the context of the right to participation

The aim of the text is to present the issue of school resistance and its relation to the children’s right to participation. School resistance is a concept investigated by critical pedagogy as one of the forms of expressing one's subjectivity. The complexity of the issue is the reason for many definitions and classifications of school resistance. Referring to the definition of school as an area of a clash between dominant and dominated culture, one can speak of resistance defined as action directed against the dominant subject. H. Giroux created a classification of this phenomenon, combining attitudes and behavior towards school (oppositional or accommodative). Types of resistance highlighted in this way provided a basis for subsequent classifications, including E. Bilińska Suchanek's, B. Babicka – Wirkus', and M. Nowicka's. All authors point to the greatest value of conscious resistance, often called transformative resistance. It is based on a disagreement about the real image of the school, while behaving correctly on its territory. In the first place, emancipation requires education that takes place in the school space. Resistance behaviors are related to the concept of participation. Pursuant to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, children and young people have the right to participate. Numerous pedagogical studies indicate that this right remains unrealized in Poland. A look at resistance behavior as a manifestation of the right to participation allows one to understand the potential of resistance – it can communicate the needs of children and young people. What adults interpret as resistance might be a message that requires dialogue and understanding. Respecting the right to participation can create such a space. Connecting the concepts of resistance and participation may contribute to increasing the democratic participation of children and young people in schools