Volume 24, Number 2, 2024

EN:

In this paper I share stories about beautifully complex and novel pathways for learners on the margins within my under-resourced Grade 2 community school classroom. I challenged practices of schooling that produced static understanding of children, and ones in which they were compared to the average, by embracing kairos moments. Kairos moments are distinct spaces full of potential that ebb and flow in unexpected ways and may lead to unanticipated outcomes. Inspired by new materialist scholarship, I worked at the intersection of theory and practice to go beyond common inclusive and self-regulatory educational strategies, to focus on the complex relationships involving children and their material contexts. Through the story of the magic pencil and the story of the invisible string, I illuminate the infinite potential within pedagogical spaces.

EN:

This study examines the effectiveness of a course for international Master’s students integrating second language acquisition (SLA) content with English for Academic Purposes (EAP) development, using a two-layered action research approach. The students in the course created self-study action research plans to achieve their EAP goals, and designed instruments to assess their progress resulting from the implementation of their plans (the first layer). The instructor also used an action research lens through which to investigate this pedagogical approach and make adjustments to the course (the second layer). The research aimed to investigate the EAP developments that students achieved through their action research plans, and the aspects of the course that contributed to those improvements. Four focal student participants' electronic portfolios were analyzed using Scarcella's (2003) academic English framework. Findings suggest that the action research model benefited students by helping them develop their linguistic, cognitive and sociocultural/psychological dimensions of academic English, and encouraging learner autonomy. Furthermore, this model benefited the instructor and her future students in terms of insights gained which allowed for improvements to the course curriculum and delivery. Implications for supporting graduate students’ EAP development and cultivating their research skills through action research are discussed.

EN:

The paper reports a collaborative self-study on instructor’s and students’ experiences in a HyFlex course in a higher education institution. The COVID-19 pandemic acted as a catalyst for the resurgence of multi-modal course delivery such as HyFlex instruction in higher education settings. The reported collaborative self-study aimed to examine both the instructor’s and the student’s perspectives on HyFlex learning. One instructor and seven students in a HyFlex class participated in the study through shared individual and collaborative reflections on their experiences. The findings indicated the benefits, potential, and challenges of HyFlex learning and instruction.

EN:

This collaborative action research, carried out by early childhood education interns, with the support of their instructor and two university researchers, shows the empowerment of postsecondary students that occurs when they are responsible for designing and implementing research projects tailored to their placement contexts. The early childhood educator interns took up a stance as reflective practitioners who developed professional skills and knowledge in an area that was meaningful to them—teaching young children their Indigenous language. The interns shared responsibility for their learning with their instructor, who was also conducting research into her practice, gathering data to identify the impact of her new teaching approach on interns’ learning. The simultaneous use of collaborative action research methods at the instructor and intern levels provides research-based information for the larger professional field. Additionally, the college instructor and the student interns are positioned as research-practitioners who use action research to support their professional growth.

EN:

Students studying abroad are faced with challenges that impact their cultural, social, and economic identities, and this varies greatly depending on their home country and study destination. The transition and inter-cultural learning experiences of international tertiary students from African countries are currently under-examined. Afrocentric theory was employed to interpret the data derived from this qualitative study, which drew upon participatory action research and Photovoice methods to explore how African students navigate transitions to studying in Canada and the strategies they use for creating supportive social resources. As authors, co-researchers, and participants, we identified unique insights on how students build and maintain senses of connections, familiarity, and comfort when away from home, and how they conceptualize, create, and sustain community. These accounts provide insight for mentors, faculty, and policymakers in North American institutions on how they can offer opportunities for holistic learning, cultural integration, and access to valuable mentorship to help students navigate the complex journey of transition.