Our Friday evening Skype discussion with a Module Two focus was interesting. The main point we made was that in Module Two you are learning about research by researching how to research– what are different ways people research? And what ways do you want to adopt when you plan research yourself. Of course, you already research in different ways but maybe you have not called it research. For instance, all those thinking about their practice in Module One are in some ways researching themselves. When you are in a performing arts class (dance, music) as you develop your art form you are researching in terms of trying out shifts in your practice – Theresa talked about this.
Within research the analysis (how you make meaning of information) is key. This is the use of Critical Thinking – not being criticalbeing judgemental or looking for ‘truth’) when you are thinking, but thinking critically (being analytical). For me critical thinking is about asking questions about the things we take for granted, asking about the ‘normal’ things we see. In the paper ‘the right to research’ (2006) Arjun Appaduria writes:
‘I maintain that knowledge is both more valuable and more ephemeral due to globalisation, and that it is vital for the exercise of informed citizenship…I …explore the democratisation of the right to research, and the nexus between research and action…
…All human beings are, in this sense, researchers, since all human being make decisions that require them to make systematic forays beyond their current knowledge horizons.’ (Appadurai, 2006, p. 167)
People in the skype are carrying on the conversations we had through their blog posts. Please go to the comments below to make a comment yourself. and also find links to people’s posts.
Appadurai, A. (2006). The Right to Research. Globalisation, Societies and Education 4(2), 167 - 177. doi:10.1080/14767720600750696
