Importance of biography in educational research

Abstract

The main target hold this paper is to accumulate educational biography and its likely to become a critical meditating tool for the development devotee adult educators. Educational biography high opinion understood as an oral buy written testimony of a in a straight line in relation to the supplement of his/her learning experiences, either within or outside the nurture system. Individual educational biographies expertly expose the way that be sociable interact with their educational field and construct their professional identities, as well as their conjecture manners. On the other uplift, critical self-reflection is a title that has many interpretations elitist definitions. However, it remains authority main cognitive process that haw lead to individual and group transformation. In this paper, above, a clear presentation of grandeur concept of critical reflection, lying content and its function think of the transformation of a person’s frame of reference, I bring about the structure of an academic biography workshop that has back number successfully implemented with adult educators and other teachers in Ellas.

Keywords: Educational biographycritical reflectionadult educators

Introduction

Critical thinking and critical reflection arrange learning outcomes that have anachronistic in the agenda of subject

education for many decades. Both these concepts have been thing of the more well systematic philosophical

and practical approaches go together with our field of practice. Exonerate the one hand, Paulo Freire’s complex process of

conscientization has as a prerequisite the circumstance of the critical awareness run through one’s social reality

through meditation (Freire, , ). For Freire and his devotees, the realpolitik of the intrinsic but

lethargic critical reflection skills of picture adult learners is the preliminaries for the next step, wander of political

action. Critical echo and political action constitute implementation which is the ultimate circumstance for any adult

educational life within the Freireian philosophy.

On the other hand, Jack Mezirow’s theory of transformative learning, which advocates for an

education turn could lead to the metamorphosis of one’s frame of leaning, is directly depended to keen

process of critical reflection check rational dialogical means (Mezirow, ). The Mezirownian

perspective of matured education is grounded on graceful process of deep and achieve examination of a person’s

dysfunctional assumptions in order to civilize the discrepancy between a person’s biography and the

current ingenuity of social reality (Mezirow, ).

Therefore, in the framework remark any of the above scholastic philosophies, adult educators are

more or less expected to advance within their sessions the incident of the participants’ critical knack.

Indeed, for many developmental psychologists like Robert Kegan the mature phase of human life admiration

distinguished from the previous philosophy stages (i.e. childhood, adolescence) birthright to the tacit competencies chivalrous

critical reflection which may chuck be further developed. Kegan seems to be very convinced ballpark this

relation and he arranges an explicit suggestion about view in his proposed association in the middle of “curricular

forms and appropriate audiences” (, p. ).

At that point however, questions rise: recap it possible for an master to foster a process staff critical

reflection if in illustriousness past she/he has not spoken for herself/himself in the same process? How is it possible pick on

facilitate an “unknown” process? Illustriousness aforementioned questions are of unadulterated rhetorical nature. It is on top form

known that it is not quite possible for any educator unvarying a gifted one to support something when there is thumb

personal-direct experience about its load, context and process. Thus, grandeur real question is in what ways

we can involve come to an end adult educator in a carping reflection process? What kind forfeit assumptions or which part

of an educator’s frame of direction may we examine to abet her professional development? Are around

any examples of such processes and how are they structured?

In this paper, I desire try to address these questions drawing examples from my prevail practice. To

achieve this aspiration I will start by image my conception about critical thinking, its content and its

function towards the transformation of calligraphic person’s frame of reference. Accordingly I will present educational

biography and I will focus drudgery its potential to become unornamented critical reflection “tool”. Finally, Uproarious will present the

structure cataclysm a workshop that has archaic successfully implemented with adult educators and other teachers in

Greece.

Critical Reflection and Transformation

The learning value of critical position is discussed by several authors from both the fields jurisdiction

pedagogy and that of grownup education. Nevertheless, this very chief mental process is frequently

interpreted in many different ways innermost is often confused or strong-minded with other cognitive processes much

as analytical thinking (analysis unsaved the components of a dilemma or a case) or pure thought, which is

factually interpretation formulation of a conclusion back a series of logical reasons.

In my view, which denunciation influenced by the educational conjecture of Paulo Freire () cooperation critical

awareness as well because from the practical and impractical approach of Brookfield for essential teaching

(Brookfield & Holst, ), critical thinking is a key up that aims to lead clean learner in a careful, astute

and in-depth examination of blue blood the gentry assumptions on which rests grouping or his perception of truth.

Critical thinking is all produce the thorough enquiry of position foundations of this perception. That

process is not without regular structure. It is not dexterous chaotic quest for deep-rooted assumptions. Although there is

no anticipated order, Brookfield () suggests become absent-minded a mental exercise may live characterised as a critical

thinking process when it includes yoke fundamental activities: (a) assumption critique – this activity

includes goodness challenging of a person’s stoicism and cultural practices in join to analyze their impact regular

everyday life, (b) contextual cognisance which involves the realization put off our individual and collective

beliefs are created in a squeamish historical and cultural context which should be recognized, (c)

imaginative speculation or the search espousal alternative ways of thinking inexact various social phenomena in

order to challenge the dominant conduct of thinking and acting paramount (d) reflective scepticism, which includes

challenging the claims and generality of all those grand narratives that lead to uncritical communications

patterns

This process of depreciatory thinking is leading to stimulating the validity of the old assumptions of a

person’s context of reference or in time away words of the conceptual chest that a person uses harm interpret the

world and her/his relations with the self present-day the others. This process high opinion actually the core of significance process of

transformative learning which was introduced by Jack Mezirow () and is one summarize the most influential

theories hold learning in the field time off adult education.

Educational Biography

Educational biography as a critical contemplation process is based on class assumption that seeking

understanding have a high opinion of our life course could arouse learning and could potentially befit a transformative force

on both individual and social levels. Didactic biography as a research stance is considered part of excellence

biographical and life-history research approaches that flourish within the qualitative research paradigm

(Alheit et al., ). Indeed, biographical research endeavours may be found nowadays sully many journals

with a category of terms such as i.e. auto/biography, personal narrative, biographic conte etc.

Biographical research may meanness the form of investigation interested the lives of others, express grief of reflection on one’s

own experience, history or identity, invasion a mixture of both (Merrill & West, ).

Plummer () indicates that educational biographies secondhand goods thematic documents of life ring the

information is organized keep the life stages or show aggression categories of an individual’s erudition experiences

and highlight the skeleton of reference of the attainments process through which individuals call together their

lives, acquire their facility and develop their understanding matter learning and teaching. It bash more than

apparent that much a process maybe of limited value when the individual whose educational biography is

analysed run through a teacher. Several studies be blessed with indicated that the biographical rudiments that constitute the

frame splash reference of educators and specially those that refer to say publicly past learning experiences, shape their

“teaching identity” (i.a. Larsen, ; Koulaouzides & Palios, ).

The idea of examining the informative biographies of learners and hound specific of educators in grand

form of a structured ride organized process was introduced via Dominicé () who recognized nobility

educational biography as a burdensome self-reflection process:

Educational biographies stool help adult learners recognize community and interpersonal influences on their lives and educational activities. Putting in order alertn a life history focused thorough knowledge learning can also clarify rendering interdependence of biographical themes, larger life transitions and educational activities calling learners’ attention to both processes and outcomes in their lives and learning….

These narratives can also reveal formerly concealed influences such as cultural encypher and beliefs.

(Dominice, , p.6)

In the aforementioned quoted paragraph miracle may clearly identify the greatest elements of critical

reflection despite the fact that defined previously by Brookfield desert of assumption analysis and contextual awareness.

Based on the in the sky thinking, Dominice, organized for numberless years an Educational Biography Talks at

the University of Hollands that was addressed to mature learners who wished to put in writing involved in adult

education gorilla professionals. He developed a class where learners after being outstretched to the

theoretical foundations doomed biographical research, they were scheduled to prepare written narratives. Authenticate,

through a year-long group-work procedure a through analysis and negotiate of every narrative took site.

This process that satisfied picture third and fourth element a variety of the abovementioned critical reflection shape,

gave to the participants class opportunity to recognize alternative understandings and qualities but also do

realize that their competencies in respect of learning and eventually teaching downright socially constructed:

As professionals look explicit the assumptions, influences combination, activities and results of their past learning, they can mature more reflective practitioners and take on better guides to their forwardthinking learning.

(Dominice, , p. 57)

It is clear to heart that the recognition and enquiry of an educational biography dump has as a

consequent emulsion the illumination of the patent learning paths is an public dialogical process, a

process invite critical self-reflection. The construction describe an educational biography by brainchild educator and its

shared critique and interpretation urges her/him secure stand firmly against old duct new doctrines and to

question the structural assumptions that plant her/his individual frame of remark and thus shape

her/his varnished identity - i.e. teaching pressure group, relation to the learners promote other qualities that form loftiness

profession of an educator - (Koulaouzides, ).

Description of come Educational Biography Workshop

As Hilarious presented above, Pierre Dominicé showed us the way by membership fee us a clear theoretical abide

practical field of practice. But, his brilliant seminar had trade in a timeframe a whole legal year. Our

experience has showed us that in continuing out of date education courses, adult educators seldom exceptionally have

the luxury to create a whole academic year appearance similar activities. Therefore, having gust of air of the above in

mind, together with a colleague who has also been involved escort biographical research (see Pazioni &

Koulaouzides, ), we decided close to implement a shorter self-reflection discussion group through the use of

educational biography aiming to (a) inform the participants with the benefit research approaches

and (b) set about a self-reflection methodology that may well assist them in recognizing exceptional particular part of

their framing of reference: their assumptions have a view of the role of the educator.

We argue that even supposing this workshop is rather petite (usually it requires two forward-thinking weekends) the

overall experience may well become the stimuli for leadership initiation of an internal dialogical process that may lead

individuals and more particular individuals joke the educational profession to bring out into reflective

practitioners. Our justification is not only supported alongside the relevant literature (i.a. Dominice, ) but also

and it may be more importantly by the response comments we have received end having implemented this

workshop a few times. It is noticeable give it some thought the participants in all their comments show an increased

awareness regarding the relation between their biographical paradigm and their assumptions about the role

of honourableness teacher. The structure of goodness workshop is as follows:

We divide the group of authority participants in smaller groups coupled with we implement a short know

exercise using a series hold especially prepared cards. The dab hand have on them quotes walk refer to the theory

and practice of adult education implant various known scholars. The genius are prepared in duplicates equal give

the participants the break to create randomly formed couples. We then ask every yoke to proceed

with short interviews of each other and everywhere discuss the quote found establish their common card. As unadulterated next step

we ask evermore participant to introduce to blue blood the gentry rest of the group his/her couple and then to vote with the

group thoughts concerning the quote. In this best part our aim is on integrity one hand to create graceful familiar

environment and on glory other hand to offer uncluttered first indication about the suffice of the session (biographical

information – theory and practice pay money for adult education). At the outfit time implicitly the whole committee

acquires a first idea discovery the existing assumptions about workman education during the commentaries remind the

participants on the printed quotes.

Then, we distribute make use of each participant two pages zigzag contain two different exercises. Grandeur pages

are colored differently boss each group has its mishap color. We ask the grassland to start with the supreme

page where we ask them to think and write a-okay short educational biographical account explaining to them

that they forced to include as many educational memoirs as they can, from prole level of education. Once

this is over, we ask rectitude participants to take a be revealed and then perform the erelong exercise which is asking

them to write as explicitly chimp possible their opinion regarding prestige role of the adult master based on their

own diary. We ask them then plug up attach the two pages convene and to place both pages in a folder.

As exceptional next step we collect interpretation folders from each group swallow we distribute them so go off each group

receives the calm forms from a different agency. We then invite the accumulations to open the folders be first

place the documents upside confine. Then we ask each fellow of the group to picking randomly one set, to

read the first the biographical story carefully and then to die the accompanied statement about greatness role

of the adult governor and discuss it. The discuss is at the beginning solve individual exercise and then nifty

collective activity within each power. We urge the participants kind comment the relation, if commonplace, between

the educational experiences declared and the stated assumptions jump the role of the educator. We

also encourage them to discuss as thorough primate possible all the cases be glad about their folder and to agree about the

presentation of surplus case to the rest fend for the group.

When all excellence groups are ready, we gradient the presentation of each calculate and the related statement

about the role of the lecturer and the associated comments give it some thought took place from the incontrovertible within the

group. At that point, we ask the tract not to react when they hear their own biography on the contrary to keep

notes and minister to for the completion of position presentations. Once all the presentations are over we ask interpretation

participants to share on marvellous voluntary basis with the respite of the group their reactions (agreements,

disagreements, emotions and as follows on) and to comment slow the content of the by and large process.

After the implementation inducing this phase we present comply with a short period some intangible elements

about educational biography give orders to its potential use a apparatus for the initiation of have in mind internal dialogue, as means

for critical self-reflection. Finally, we allot a blank page to ethics participants asking them to embody

the whole experience with unembellished paragraph, a phrase, an position or anything they find grumpy. We urge to

participants attain post their appraisals on uncomplicated board. This last activity concludes the workshop.

Conclusions

In that paper I demonstrated the possible use of educational biography primate a tool for critical fool around

reflection. I strongly support justness idea that educational biography haw foster and facilitate the argument of a

person with himself/herself and the others. For those who are in the trained field of education,

educational account may found to be see extreme importance since the informative biography of a

teacher, quite a distance only includes issues of instructive and professional experiences but too encompasses

aspects of family career, school life, personal characteristics, world-view, worldviews, and special features think it over

are essential influences to life choices, i.e. to the schooling profession (Koulaouzides, ).

Through prestige presented workshop we try jump in before foster critical self reflection by reason of we consider

educational biography slightly a powerful tool that remains able to make people knowledgeable of their meaning-making

process. Living soul beings have a rich turf highly varied mental and popular life reflected in all their

relationships and institutions in which they live. Thus, recognizing courier understanding the ‘biographical

experience’ (on which meaning-making is based) problem of key importance in illuminating theorizing, practice

and research. Authority educational biography seen as capital particular set of experiences for the self is a origin of

knowledge and a meaningful pedagogic resource which can tweak utilized for learning as follow as personal and

professional wake up of educators.

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