Thursday 26 January 2012

Action inquiry resources

We had our first Project Community Steering Group meeting yesterday which really got my senses going (I don't know how else to put it; it was quite an emotional event for me and I was quite nervous leading up to it for a range of reasons). I'm really warming into this!
I'm collecting web resources about activist learning and development here on Delicious. I'd love to hear of sites you've used or seen that would be helpful too!
One article I've just read titled "Lucienne Roberts: A is for Activism" (2011) is a commentary by Roberts on the idea of design activism. She reflects on her work as a graphic designer and whether or not she sees herself contributing to activist movements and the social good.
George Bush Shoulda billboard alteration
Image : Steve Rhodes (flickr)
I'm sensing that given the participatory nature of the Project, it seems logical to develop an activist education design approach in service to the participants. Not only logical, but it FEELS right. I'm seeing many connections between 'good' education design and participatory action research both in shared principles and similar practices.
Briefly, shared principles might include:
  • user participation and centredness
  • collaborative design and development
  • transformation and change
  • emergent design (i.e. research design and ed design framework)
  • critical reflection
  • activism
  • action inquiry
Some similar practices might include:
  • ongoing consultation and feedback (dialogical)
  • workshopping design elements using group processes
  • developing mini scenarios and case studies
  • (meta) reflection on the process(es)
  • telling stories and active listening
  • ensuring safe spaces to work together
I'm sure I'll be delving into these points and more as my involvement in the project grows!

Friday 20 January 2012

Re-emerging in 2012!

Well, a belated Happy New Year to you all :o)
Fireworks
Photo by bayasaa
After a hiatus designed by moving interstate and having kid number 2, life is returning to some kind of 'normal', and I have picked up a bit of work that is turning out to be most interesting!
My reflections on this work will appear here (minus any identifying information), but needless to say it is consulting on an education design facilitation framework/process for a participatory action research project in the area of Aboriginal health service provision. I'm really looking forward to getting stuck in and it's certainly a change from education design work within the education setting!
Whilst away from 'here', I have been blogging our gardening activities over here. But more to come here shortly...stay tuned :o)
playground area
Garden in flow...!