Making Sense of Teaching and Learning: Early Career Academics' Informal Conversations in Liminal Spaces

• In Event: Global Lens on Teacher Career Development

Abstract

Informal conversations play a significant role in workplace learning and professional development, but little is known about their significance, especially among Early Career Academics who engage in them in liminal spaces. Through the lenses of liminality and sensemaking, we used a self-study methodology to explore how our conversations are helping us to navigate teaching and learning. We found that ‘Room32’, our liminal space, has given us a safe environment to make sense of our teaching and learning challenges and to unravel the anxieties we feel entangled in. We further found that informal conversations are significant for our professional development.

Authors

• Nokukhanya Satimburwa, University of KwaZulu-Natal

• Nosipho Mbatha, University of KwaZulu-Natal

• Vusi Msiza, University of KwaZulu-Natal

• Thabile Zondi, University of KwaZulu-Natal