Investigations into children’s participation and agency: working towards change in classroom practices and cultures

My research broadly has two strands. The first has contributed to work on young children’s use of representational practices, showing how children’s drawing activities are grounded in intention and meaning-making in social contexts. In drawing attention to what children do and how they actively use visual representation it added new insights to theoretical work on learning in a socio-cultural framework where learning is understood as participation in social practices; as joint activity, mediated by other people and cultural activities and artefacts. The second strand was based in these understandings of learning but explored, and also developed communicative practices in classrooms and children’s role in decision-making. The research investigated the extent of the children’s democratic engagement and the development of a more democratically participatory space where they can exercise agency both as learners and as participants in democratic communities. This work also contributed in new ways to children’s agency as researchers. I argue that these two strands are inter-related, a position also represented in my sole-authored book (Cox 2011). In relation to development in pedagogical practices across important areas of teachers’ work, including classroom interaction and communication, curriculum and assessment, I argue in this book that principles can be based in socio-cultural ways of theorising learning, as well as in democratic values, suggesting more ‘participative’ (empowered) participation. Using research evidence and argument I show how changes in classroom practices can be appropriated by conventional theorisations of learning (person-to-person accounts) and existing cultures of ‘schooling’, limiting children’s learning. I explore the tensions that arise, especially in a wider context of performance-driven, market-led policies. An underlying theme is that a shift towards socio-cultural understandings of learning might help to resolve these tensions and achieve changes in practices in possibly transformative ways, creating a more educational culture and embracing the idea of children as agents of cultural change. I aim, in the commentary, to convey the thematic connections and contributions across my work in relation to my role as teacher educator as well as researcher

Alien Registration- Cox, Susan A. (Portland, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/24171/thumbnail.jp

Alien Registration- Cox, Susan A. (Portland, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/24171/thumbnail.jp

Enhancing Meaning-Making in Research through Sensory Engagement with Material Objects

There has been increasing awareness and interest in the role of the senses in qualitative research. We build on this work by focusing on the use of material objects in research. Using material objects in qualitative research, particularly those selected by research participants, offers a different kind of engagement that can add richness and complexity to the knowledge generated. Material objects can either be participant-selected or researcher-selected, each having its own benefits and challenges. Using examples, we explore how participants sensorially engage with these objects, using visual, auditory, olfactory, and tactile means. This engagement with material objects, particularly those that are personally meaningful to participants, is useful when examining research topics that may be sensitive or abstract; it offers the potential for participants to identify salient associations and/or express what may be otherwise unsayable. We discuss practical strategies in using material objects as well as the ethical challenges and possible products of such research

Comparaison de deux méthodes de dissémination de résultats de recherche dans le domaine de la santé : les arts et le café scientifique

Un nombre croissant de chercheurs du domaine de la santé se tournent vers des formes novatrices de recherche alliant les méthodologies des sciences sociales et des arts performatifs, littéraires et visuels. Cet article compare et analyse deux méthodes de dissémination de résultats de recherche dans le domaine de la santé : le café scientifique et la performance artistique (arts visuels, chant, poésie, théâtre). L’analyse de questionnaires remplis par 78 répondants et d’entrevues menées auprès de ces personnes indique que la performance artistique est plus efficace dans la communication de résultats de recherche selon trois des quatre critères d’évaluation utilisés : elle suscite davantage d’émotions chez les membres de l’auditoire, suscite plus de questions sur le sujet couvert et influence un plus grand nombre de personnes à modifier leur point de vue et leurs pratiques. Tant le café scientifique que la performance artistique aident les participants à comprendre la problématique exposée. Les arts permettent cependant une compréhension différente.A growing numbers of researchers in the health sector are opting for innovative research approaches that combine methodologies from the social sciences and the performing, literary and visual arts. This article compares and contrasts two methods for disseminating research findings related to health : science cafés and artistic performance (visual arts, song, poetry, theatre). An analysis of questionnaires and interviews completed by 78 respondents shows that artistic performance is more effective in communicating research results based on three of the four evaluation criteria used : it triggers more emotions among audience members, generates more questions on the topic concerned, and influences a greater number of people to alter their viewpoints and change their practices. Science cafés and artistic performance both help participants to better understand the issues examined. The arts, however, shine a different light on these issues.Un creciente número de investigadores del área de la salud se dirige hacia formas de investigación innovadoras, utilizando metodologías de las ciencias sociales y de las artes interpretativas, literarias y visuales. Ese artículo compara y contrasta dos métodos de diseminación de los resultados de investigación en el área de la salud : el café científico y la interpretación artística (artes visuales, canto, poesía, teatro). El análisis de los cuestionarios y de las entrevistas realizadas por 78 individuos indica que la interpretación artística es más eficaz en la comunicación de resultados de investigación según tres de los cuatro criterios de evaluación utilizados : aquella suscita más emociones en los miembros del auditorio, genera más cuestionamientos acerca del tema tratado e influye a un mayor número de personas en cuanto a la modificación de su punto de vista y sus prácticas. Tanto el café científico como la interpretación artística ayudan a los participantes a comprender la problemática expuesta. Sin embargo, las artes permiten una comprensión diferente

The Textual-Visual Thematic Analysis: A Framework to Analyze the Conjunction and Interaction of Visual and Textual Data

Visual methods offer an innovative approach to qualitative research through their potential to prompt dialogue, enrich verbal and textual data, and enable participants to communicate about difficult topics. However, the use of visual methods requires that researchers rethink methodological aspects of data generation and analysis, especially when working with participant-generated images. Although there are now many analytical frameworks and guidebooks providing instructions on the analysis of textual and visual materials, detailed descriptions of how these elements are brought together are often missing from research reports, precluding novice and other researchers from understanding how findings were attained. Our aim in this article is to describe and illustrate the Textual-Visual Thematic Analysis (TVTA), a framework we developed to collaboratively analyze the conjunction and interaction of textual and visual data in a photo-elicitation study. Given that the ethical and methodological aspects are deeply entwined, we begin the article by contextualizing the data obtained from the photo-elicitation study and then consider confidentiality and approaches to valuing participants\u27 voices. Next, we share the TVTA framework, its procedural implementation, and insights derived from evolving our data analysis approach. We conclude by offering reflections on the limitations and possibilities for future research

High-Temperature Transport Properties of the Zintl Phases Yb_(11)GaSb_9 and Yb_(11)InSb_9

Two rare-earth Zintl phases, Yb_(11)GaSb_9 and Yb_(11)InSb_9, were synthesized in high-temperature self-fluxes of molten Ga and In, respectively. Structures were characterized by both single-crystal X-ray diffraction and powder X-ray diffraction and are consistent with the published orthorhombic structure, with the space group Iba2. High-temperature differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetry (TG) measurements reveal thermal stability to 1300 K. Seebeck coefficient and resistivity measurements to 1000 K are consistent with the hypothesis that Yb_(11)GaSb_9 and Yb_(11)InSb_9 are small band gap semiconductors or semimetals. Low doping levels lead to bipolar conduction at high temperature, preventing a detailed analysis of the transport properties. Thermal diffusivity measurements yield particularly low lattice thermal conductivity values, less than 0.6 W/m K for both compounds. The low lattice thermal conductivity suggests that Yb_(11)MSb_9 (M = Ga, In) has the potential for high thermoelectric efficiency at high temperature if charge-carrier doping can be controlled