Space, Time, Good Wine, and Conversation: Emergence of Ideas Within an Unconventional Teacher Research Group

• In Event: Roundtable Session 5
  In Roundtable Session: Complex Relationships, Complex Conversations

Abstract

This paper presents and describes the emergent structures and evolution of a teacher/educator inquiry group formed to create a professional learning community intended to support ideas of educational innovation and consider matters of learning and teaching ‘differently’ and complexly. Based on data arising from a network of ‘commonplace texts’ developed in face-to-face meetings and online ‘gatherings’ of the group, this presentation examines an exploration of ‘time’ and ‘space’ in pedagogy and within the time and space of this teacher/educator research community. We present and interrogate problems and ‘spaces of possibility’ that have emerged through this project as well as suggesting some complexity-informed alternatives to typical teacher professional development models, and that offer spaces for the growth of innovative ideas.

Authors

• Linda Laidlaw, University of Alberta

• Lee Makovichuk, Child Study Centre

• Suzanna So-Har Wong, University of Alberta

• Julie Gellner, University of Alberta

• Santwana Sinha, Child Study Centre

• Margaret Mykietyshyn, Grant MacEwan University

• Raelene Finlayson, Edmonton Public Schools

• Joanne O'Mara, Deakin University