Reconceptualizing Social Relations in the Analysis of Classroom Conversations Around Written Texts

• In Event: Reconceptualizing Classroom Interactions and Relationships

Abstract

Central to discourse analysis of classroom conversations is the characterization of relations among people in the event, between people and the text(s) being used, and between an individual and him/herself. The purpose of this paper is to reconceptualize the way these relationships have been characterized in classroom discourse analysis. We pursue a reconceptualization based on discussions of these relationships by Hawkins and Buber of “I-Thou-It” relations and from Relational Cultural Psychology. We begin with a critique of current approaches followed by presentation of key issues from philosophical discussions of “I-Thou-It” and Relational Cultural Psychology. We then present a video segment from a classroom discussion of a literary text illustrating how the perspectives above might be integrated with microethnographic discourse analysis.

Authors

• David M. Bloome, The Ohio State University

• Miriam B. Raider-Roth, University of Cincinnati

• Elie Holzer, Bar-Ilan University