Storying A Reflexive Praxis For Pedagogy

This volume conceptualizes and distinguishes storying from narrative and storytelling to establish itself as a method. It theorizes that storying pertains to ones’ identity, to the unique positions of who one is, how they came to be, and why they came to be (Raj, 2019). Building upon foundational work from Freire, Greene, and Clandinin & Connelly, this book elucidates storying through a new concept “emotional truth”--a deeply personal and authentic experience that builds a tangible connection from teller to listener. Such an involved conception of Storying could have the potential to anchor storying as research methodology and as valid pedagogical practice. Further, the chapters in this book establish storying as a concept, method, and as pedagogical practice.

This volume conceptualizes and distinguishes storying from narrative and storytelling to establish itself as a method. It theorizes that storying pertains to ones’ identity, to the unique positions of who one is, how they came to be, and why they came to be (Raj, 2019). Building upon foundational work from Freire, Greene, and Clandinin & Connelly, this book elucidates storying through a new concept “emotional truth”--a deeply personal and authentic experience that builds a tangible connection from teller to listener. Such an involved conception of Storying could have the potential to anchor storying as research methodology and as valid pedagogical practice. Further, the chapters in this book establish storying as a concept, method, and as pedagogical practice.

Reflexivity and Critical Pedagogy is concerned with understanding the complex political, cultural and psycho-social dynamics that define knowledge and that constitute the contexts in which learning takes place. Reflexivity is key to achieving truly useful approaches to knowledge creation and dissemination.

“Of Books, Barns, and Boardrooms: Exploring Praxis through Reflexive Inquiry is an engaging and accessible book that is at once scholarly and personal. Ellyn Lyle explores how self intersects with pedagogy and education in three separate but connected contexts: formal education, horse training (joining-up), and workplace learning. She begins with a narrative of how she learned about reflexive inquiry; from that foundation, she questions how educational systems can both debilitate and inspire, using her own life story and explaining how theories relate to practice. In so doing, Lyle is informative and invitational, providing a model for educators to problematize their own contexts. Most interesting is how she uses the concept of joining-up, not training, when exploring her work with horses. This transferable concept requires educators and learners to communicate, build reciprocal relationships, work towards understanding, engage in meaning-making, and interact with others through mutual respect. Educators in all contexts would benefit from reading this book, and I will be recommending it to my students.” – Nancy Taber, Brock University “Ellyn Lyle uses the successful, deep communication with horses, a process called ‘Join-Up,’ as a lyrical and practical metaphor for negotiating learning in multiple contexts. A fascinating personal story, Of Books, Barns, and Boardrooms is also an invaluable guidebook for learning, teaching, and questioning: for parents, teachers, students, administrators, and entrepreneurs. I am urged to consider where learning and systems fail and, also, to celebrate how ‘life is my classroom, and all encounters, my teachers.’ I wish I had had these insights and inspiring analogies at hand when I was a university professor and president.” – Elizabeth R. Epperly, Professor Emerita and Past President, University of Prince Edward Island, author of Power Notes: Leadership by Analogy “When I ‘Join-Up’ with Ellyn Lyle’s philosophical inquiry, I experience a process of deep trust and listening that she suggests is the basis of authentic learning. Of Books, Barns, and Boardrooms, about learners and learning, is a critical and creative inquiry that questions and challenges practices that prevent learning. It is a way of doing philosophy, a method of (re)constructing narrative to examine some of the metaphors that shape and inform concepts, biases, and assumptions. Using her understanding of join-up to identify problems that prohibit growth, the author constructs a compelling story of change and invites readers to do the same.” – Anne-Louise Brookes, author of Feminist Pedagogy: An Autobiographical Approach “Ellyn Lyle takes readers on an inspirational journey celebrating learning and teaching as a shared and respectful partnership—one that values the breadth of life’s experiences as sources of knowledge.” – Debra Manning, Federation University Australia

This book is an exposition of a curriculum innovation within the complex yet fertile ground of school-based education in Singapore. Beyond straightforward descriptions and protocols, this book purposefully connects classroom practices with theories in a clear, uncomplicated way. The result provides a series of rationales for action, reflection and understanding that other publications in digital storytelling sometimes fail to cover or explain in sufficient detail. Broadly, these include digital multimodal authorship; teachers’ and students’ storytelling task design and assessment; the use of digital storytelling as a reflective and reflexive expression of teachers’ professionalism; and dialogism in classroom practice.

In educational leadership, aspiring leaders from traditionally marginalized backgrounds face a difficult range of challenges that hinder their ability to thrive. This problem is not confined to a single facet but extends its reach across the educational landscape, impacting diversity, equity, and inclusivity within academic institutions. As the demand for authentic and practical guidance in navigating the leadership pipeline becomes increasingly urgent, institutions struggle to prepare aspiring leaders effectively and develop a more inclusive curriculum. These issues are deeply interconnected, forming a complex and multifaceted problem that demands an all-encompassing solution. Within the pages of Pursuing Equity and Success for Marginalized Educational Leaders, the remedy for this intricate challenge unfolds. This groundbreaking book emerges as a product of collaboration between seasoned practitioners and esteemed researchers, presenting a comprehensive guide aimed at empowering aspiring leaders hailing from marginalized backgrounds. It is a valuable resource, offering practical guidance and research-backed strategies.

Learning Through Storytelling in Higher Education explores ways of using storytelling as a teaching and learning tool. When storytelling is formalized in meaningful ways, it can capture everyday examples of practice and turn them into an opportunity to learn - encouraging both reflection, a deeper understanding of a topic and stimulating critical thinking skills. The technique can accommodate diverse cultural, emotional and experiential incidents, and may be used in many different contexts eg formal/informal; one-on-one/group setting. The authors outline the different models of storytelling and explain how to make use of this technique and encourage a 'storytelling culture' within the workplace or in tutorial sessions. Academic yet accessible, this book provides a new perspective on learning techniques and will be a great asset to any educator looking to improve reflective practice.

Putting Critical Language Pedagogy into Practice explores the practice of language teaching through the lens of critical pedagogy, reflexivity, and the importance of reflexivity for teacher development. It also shows how these reflexive practices can contribute to more inclusivity and decolonization of the curriculum. A range of experts argue persuasively for epistemological reflexivity in practice and demonstrate how to implement this critical thinking into daily instructional practice. Each chapter is structured around three themes in order to help readers connect challenging theoretical ideas into day to day teaching practice: Reflection – the author’s story and issue of concern; Epistemic Reflexivity – personal epistemologies reflecting on the social conditions influencing the theory underpinning that author’s practices; Resolved action – how the epistemic reflexivity leads to purposeful decision-making enacted in classroom contexts. Original, thoughtful and challenging, this text is fascinating and instructional reading for language education advanced students, researchers and practitioners. The idea for this book emerged during the Fulbright scholarship at Texas Woman’s University out of the mutual research interests of the editors.