Interventionist and Empirical research methodologies

1. Interventionist and Empirical research methodologies The role of local knowledge John Holmes School of Education Leeds University Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

2. Aims and objectives • To examine the ´postcolonial landscapes´ and the role of local knowledge approaches. • To discuss some of the key themes in local knowledge research. • To look at some case studies where local knowledge was important • To exchange ideas about our own research • To make that research more honest • To work out a fruitful relationship with ´universal´theory. Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

3. Structure of the mini-curso • Day One • Basic principles and contexts, • Establishing parameters and priorities in common • Day Two • Discussion of LC article (Canagarajah); Case studies • Identities and representations • Day Three • Discussion of ´New Literacies´ (Street) • Looking at literacy and multimodality • Day Four • Exchanging ideas: posters, finding common ground Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

4. Day One: main content • 1. Establishing our point of departure: • What do you want to find out? • What´s your methodology? • Why are you doing research? • 2. Postcolonialism • The roots of Local Knowledge approaches • Deterritorialisation and reterritorialisation • Hybridity and the Third Space • 3. Personal journeys: epistemology and ontology • Metaphor: the importance of Landscape • 4. Local Knowledge: Principles and Positives Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

5. Some points to note • Reaction slips at the end of each session to keep on track. • Stop me and ask questions when necessary. • We will not use the words ´globalisation´ or ´Third World´. • We will try to refer to sources that are not European or American..... Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

6. Local knowledge and Postcolonialism • Roots of Local Knowledge approaches • ´Find where you are and where you are starting from. Then you can begin to write your history´(Ibn Khaldun 1390) • ´What comes from the Third World is considered local; what comes from the West is considered universal´ (Ngugi 1991) • ´When we do research we talk about our subject´s ´World View´, but when we refer to ourselves as researchers then we call it Ontology.´ (Norton 2007) Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

7. The local/universal tension • Universal knowledge legitimizes our research (bibliographical references!) • The universal is highlighted in our reports of research, - thesis, dissertation. • We read/see research subsequently through the lens of the ´victors´ (not the subjects). • Reading about someone´s research doesn´t help us to follow, or ´live´ this research. Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

8. Characteristics of postcolonial ontology • Deterritorialisation and reterritorialisation (Deleuze) • Hybridity and the Third Space • (Bhaba) • Metaphors we live by • Personal landscapes: epistemology and ontology (archaeology) Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

9. Reaction slips • Write down what you have learned today, it may not be just facts.... • Mention anything that was especially interesting/confusing. • Are there other issues that you would like to deal with later/ • Any topics of especial interest? • Don´t put your name on it, but remember that someone else will read it tomorrow. Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007

10. Topics for case studies • Eritrea and mother tongue literacy; children´s voices through drama. • The development of academic writers in English: measures and perceptions (Oman). • The development of beginnier writers (intertextuality) • The development of newly qualified teachers in rural Eritrea • Impact studies: ESP in Brazil • Any suggestions from you? Mini-curso Sao Paulo 2007