From Mindful to Reflective: Employing "a Walk" as a Self-Study Method of Inquiry

• In Event: Imagination, Play, and Creativity as Sustainable Self-Study Practice

Abstract

This study explores how I use ‘a walk’ as a method of inquiry and data collection for my self-study research. I am a Japanese preschool educator working in Iceland and a former Japanese martial arts practitioner. Working with children needs a balance between responsivity to meet children’s needs and mindfulness in my reflection. Bullock’s (2014) episode extracting method is applied to excavate my past martial arts experience and make a connection to my walk. While reflecting on my martial arts practice, I discovered that my walk gives me space to explore my thoughts about practice. My walk becomes more reflective as an inquiry method when my critical friends join my walk and discuss our practices.

Author

• Megumi Nishida, University of Iceland
  Presenting Author