Rethinking Place and Space in Social Studies Research: Toward a Spatial Justice Agenda

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

Despite critical spatial turns in fields such as human geography, feminism, cultural studies, critical race studies, and more broadly education, scholars have yet to advance theoretical, pedagogical, and methodological critical spatial frames in social studies education and research. Given the documented potential of these frames to engender equity and justice in other fields, we contend that centering space and spatial inquiry is necessary to understand the origins and solutions to social and racial injustice. This symposium advances a spatial justice agenda in the social studies to move the field towards its liberatory potential. The symposium highlights emergent empirical and theoretical social studies scholarship that embodies the potential for critical spatial theories, frameworks, and methodologies to advance the social studies field.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Social Studies Research

Chair

• Kristin Sinclair, Georgetown University

Papers

• Advancing a Spatial Justice Vision and Framework for Social Studies Education Research - Timothy Monreal, University at Buffalo - SUNY; Kaitlin E. Popielarz, The University of Texas-San Antonio; Kristin Sinclair, Georgetown University

• The "Terroir" of Teaching: A Spatial Turn in Teacher Education - Annie Whitlock, University of Michigan-Flint

• (In)Consequential-ness of Abstract World-Ma(r)king: Composing (Curricular) Counter-Cartographies - Muna Saleh, Concordia University of Edmonton; Bretton A. Varga, California State University - Chico

• Accounting for Space in Social Studies Research and Practice - Erin Adams, Kennesaw State University

Discussant

• Sandra Schmidt, Teachers College, Columbia University