The proof is in the cricket: engaging with edible insects through action research

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 149-159
Author(s):  
T.B.W. Seekings ◽  
K.C. Wong
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Continuous Improvement ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
Informal Settings

This paper describes an ongoing research project conducted at the College of Environmental Studies at National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan. It discusses the merits of action research for conducting interdisciplinary research on edible insects and advancing the edible insects sector in Taiwan. In this study, action research has facilitated the growth and continuous improvement of a cricket farm and exploratory studies on feeding crickets using food waste and snails as well as application of turtle vine for water provision. Furthermore, action research facilitated the emergence of actions during which the farmed crickets were prepared as food in educational contexts, together with participants. Initially this occurred in informal settings. Subsequently, as the scope of actions expanded and the number of involved people increased, participants were instrumental in conceiving larger-scale and more formal interventions such as classes, workshops, and food stalls. The findings suggest that public participation can be a strong driver for advancing the edible insects sector. While there are barriers towards acceptance of edible insects in Taiwan that are comparable to those faced in Western countries, there are also unique opportunities. For example, whole insects might be more acceptable in Taiwan than in Western countries. In addition, the value of increasing acceptance through active engagement of participants in preparing crickets as food in a social context was highlighted. In the absence of an engaged local scholarly network, an existing community of practice, or well-funded and proactive research institutions, action research offers a useful paradigm for individual researchers to explore multiple aspects of edible insects research and thereby aid in advancing the edible insects sector.

scholarly journals Assessment as Action Research: Bridging Academic Scholarship and Everyday Practice

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Janicke Hinchliffe
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Ways Of Knowing ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Informed Decision Making ◽  
Culture Of Evidence ◽  
Academic Scholarship ◽  
Scholarly Projects

"This introductory essay demonstrates that action research has a vital role in evidence informed practice in academic libraries. Scholarly projects like the ones described in thisspecial issue can support the development of a culture of evidence-informed decision making. Through the articles in this issue, readers can come to a deeper understanding ofaction research as a productive, appropriate, and rigorous way of knowing and generating knowledge. Action research studies, such as these, are effective means of buildinga profession’s ways of knowing, nurturing a community of practice, and generating legitimate and rigorous scholarship. We invite you to learn, through the thoughtfulcontributions of these authors, the value of this research approach as well as their results."

Developing the Methodology for an Applied, Interdisciplinary Research Project: Documenting the Journey Toward Philosophical Clarity

2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 450-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loene M. Howes
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Mixed Methods Research ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Research Project ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Methodological Choices ◽  
Interdisciplinary Research Project ◽  
Logic Of Inquiry ◽  
Methodological Refinement

Methodologists have urged researchers who use mixed methods to justify their methodological choices and provide greater clarity about the philosophical underpinnings and implications of their approaches. This article outlines the reasoning process undertaken in an endeavor to develop philosophical clarity for an applied, interdisciplinary, mixed methods research project about the communication of scientific evidence in the legal system. I used Greene’s domains of methodology for social inquiry as a framework for addressing reflexive questions about assumptions. Flowing from the domains of values and philosophies, the logic of inquiry was developed before the implications for the integration of findings and reporting of research were outlined. Early engagement in reflexive questioning provided a foundation for methodological refinement throughout the ongoing research journey.

Creating a Community of Practice in Learning

2016 ◽  
pp. 1380-1398
Author(s):  
Ebenezer Uy ◽  
Eusebio Yu
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Online Community ◽  
Learning Context ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Inductive Approach ◽  
New Knowledge ◽  
Online Community Of Practice ◽  
Online Communities Of Practice

Social media plays a huge part in Filipinos' lives. In the area of learning, the proponents observed the emergence of an online community of practice using Facebook groups that has over 350 members. The aim of the chapter is to answer the question: How do online communities of practice engage students to learn and build new knowledge? The objective is to propose a framework that will guide readers to build their own online community of practice based on its learning context. To achieve the objective, the proponents use the inductive approach of grounded theory using action research. Results show that community members used different Facebook features to support their ongoing community of practice. Further studies may also assess the applicability of the framework in other areas of development.

Spaces and places for popular education and participatory action research

2020 ◽  
pp. 41-56
Author(s):  
Marjorie Mayo
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Lifelong Learning ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Popular Education ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Community Based Education ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Informal Settings

Governments have supported popular education initiatives in the past. And so have community organisations and social movements. But the spaces for popular education have been shrinking in recent times, as part of the impact of neo-liberal globalisation. Public services have been increasingly subjected to pressures from market forces, pressures that have impacted on community-based education and lifelong learning. Despite these wider pressures, educators have continued to find spaces and places for popular education and participatory action research, however, working across sectors in a variety of contexts. The chapter includes examples of innovatory approaches in both formal settings and informal settings (such as libraries and community centres) including examples from both Northern and Southern American contexts.

Designing, Setting Up, and Facilitating a Knowledge Sharing Virtual Community of Practice, between Social Work Lecturers in the UK and India

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Williams
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Action Research ◽  
Knowledge Sharing ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Virtual Community ◽  
Online Discussions ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Virtual Community Of Practice ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Uk

The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effectiveness of a virtual Community of Practice (vCoP) which was developed between social work lecturers in two University settings – one in the UK and the other in India. The design and methodology draws on qualitative data collected from online discussions and semi-structured questionnaires arising from the involvement of twelve participants over a one year period. An Action Research method was adopted which allowed the shift of power from the designer to the participants over the year. This paper illustrates how a vCoP can be an ideal tool to aid communication and knowledge sharing between universities within an international context. It adds value by increasing the knowledge of participant lecturers to more than local perspectives and gives a greater understanding of social work from an international, cross-country, perspective. Although one of the limitations is that this is a small scale study, it does raise important considerations necessary for ensuring the success for vCoP’s and offers a model to aid successful online collaboration as well as important messages for those who are developing online courses and teaching within an international environment. It further gives insight into adopting Action Research as a research methodology that can be usefully used for online collaborative research.

the Sustainable Harvesting of Edible Insects in South Africa, with Reference to Indigenous Knowledge, African Science, Western Science and Education

2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (S1) ◽  
pp. 145-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rob Toms
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Limpopo Province ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Western Science ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Ongoing Research ◽  
Sustainable Harvesting

AbstractIn our ongoing research on edible insects in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, we have found evidence of the unsustainable harvesting of edible insects and the food plants of certain insects. The decline in the edible insect industry, together with the need for food security provides a strong incentive to investigate possible causes of problems using different knowledge systems. Any solution to these problems needs to take Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) into account if it hopes to be successful and sustainable. We have found that different communities have different explanations for the same phenomena. Some of these explanations correspond with the explanations for the same phenomena in Western science. Where areas of overlap between IKS and Western science exist, these can be used in education in such a way that recommendations for sustainable harvesting can be developed with reference to African science. In this process, the area of overlap between the systems may grow as information from one system is incorporated in another. In this contribution the overlapping roles of IKS, African science and Western science are explored in the teaching of the sustainable harvesting of Indigenous resources for food security and conservation. This creates opportunities to teach relevant science in such a way that the concerned communities can benefit through better food security and the conservation of culturally important plants and animals.

scholarly journals Εφαρμογή μετασχηματιστικού μοντέλου στην επαγγελματική ανάπτυξη των εκπαιδευτικών

2016 ◽  
Vol 7 (6B) ◽  
Author(s):  
Αθανάσιος Χαρίσης
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Training Model ◽  
Cascade Model ◽  
Research Model ◽  
Deficit Model ◽  
Model Community

Οι περισσότεροι μελετητές τονίζουν την ανάγκη η ενδοϋπηρεσιακή εκπαίδευση των εκπαιδευτικών να διαπνέεται από τους στόχους και να χρησιμοποιεί ποικιλία μοντέλων και πρακτικών της συνεχιζόμενης επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης. Και στην πράξη έχει διαπιστωθεί ότι απαιτείται συνδυασμός διαφορετικών μοντέλων επιμόρφωσης, ανάλογα με τις φάσεις της επαγγελματικής σταδιοδρομίας και τις ανάγκες του σχολείου και της κοινωνίας που αλλάζουν συνεχώς.<br />Στην εισήγηση θα παρουσιαστεί η εφαρμογή μετασχηματιστικού μοντέλου στην προσπάθεια κάλυψης επιμορφωτικών αναγκών ενός σχολείου σε ψυχοκοινωνικά θέματα από φορέα επιμόρφωσης μιας Διεύθυνσης Εκπαίδευσης. Το μετασχηματιστικό μοντέλο είναι συνδυασμός διάφορων τεχνικών με σκοπό να αξιοποιηθούν θετικά στοιχεία που προέρχονται από διαφορετικά μοντέλα και να εξουδετερωθούν τα αρνητικά τους.<br />Θα περιγραφεί λοιπόν η υλοποίηση επιμορφωτικής δράσης που περιλαμβάνει: επικοινωνία φορέα-σχολείου, αυτοδιάγνωση των επιμορφωτικών αναγκών του σχολείου, συνεργασία με τον επιμορφωτικό φορέα στη διοργάνωση της δράσης, συμμετοχικότητα στην ανάπτυξη του αντικειμένου επιμόρφωσης, συνεργασία με την τοπική και την ευρύτερη κοινότητα, συνεργασία με την κεντρική διοίκηση του Υπουργείου, αυτοαξιολόγηση και διάχυση των αποτελεσμάτων της επιμόρφωσης, εξωτερική αξιολόγηση των εκπαιδευτικών και του φορέα επιμόρφωσης. Θα επιχειρηθεί να τονιστεί πώς ο συνδυασμός στην πράξη των θετικών στοιχείων διαφορετικών μοντέλων επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης των εκπαιδευτικών, Training Model, Deficit Model, Cascade Model, Community of Practice, Action Research Model συνέβαλε στην επιτυχία της επιμορφωτικής δράσης, όπως αυτοαξιολογήθηκε αρχικά με εσωτερικά κριτήρια τα οποία θα παρουσιαστούν.

scholarly journals EFL teacher professional change in India

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 204-221
Author(s):  
Helen B. Toraskar
Keyword(s):  
Community Of Practice ◽  
Professional Community ◽  
Language Teachers ◽  
Professional Relationships ◽  
Central Position ◽  
Active Engagement ◽  
Potential Growth ◽  
Case Study Methodology ◽  
Teacher Professional ◽  
Professional Change

Abstract This article examines teacher professional change and compares two 10th standard English as a Foreign Language teachers employed in a Marathi-medium secondary school in Pune (India) at different stages in their careers. Wenger’s (1998) three interconnected Community of Practice dimensions (i.e. mutual engagement, joint enterprise and shared repertoire) highlight pertinent facets of the teachers’ professional lives as viewed from the sociocultural perspective (Vygotsky, 1978). Case study methodology was utilized within a qualitative, ethnographic research paradigm. The aim is to uncover how the two EFL teachers engage in their professional community of practice and their career trajectories. Firstly, the data analysis indicates that periphery member status is established through active engagement in the professional community which creates trajectories along which novices may travel. Secondly, the accessing and sharing of information, ideas and experiences is beneficial for all members as it strengthens professional relationships and reconfirms already existing members’ central position. Lastly, active engagement in a professional community of practice offers a means of potential growth for novice teachers and central members. Access to communal resources such as new knowledge, stories and artifacts is acquired and aids in establishing novices’ competency.

scholarly journals Action research with young people: possibilities and ‘messy realities’

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (3-2019) ◽  
pp. 255-270 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barry Percy-Smith ◽  
Morena Cuconato ◽  
Christian Reutlinger ◽  
Nigel Patrick Thomas
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Young People ◽  
Participatory Action Research ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Power Relationships ◽  
Participatory Action ◽  
Youth Research ◽  
Funded Project ◽  
Informal Settings

This paper reflects on our experiences of using participatory action research (PAR) with young people as part of an EU H2020 project exploring the spaces and styles of youth participation in formal, nonformal and informal settings. The paper outlines key tenets of action research and provides a brief review of the literature concerning the use of PAR in youth research. Drawing on three case studies, we provide an honest account of some of the messy realities involved in realising the promise of participatory action research in practice. The central focus is on how the action research played out in practice, the challenges of undertaking PAR within the context of a funded project with predefined deliverables, the power relationships between researchers and young people and how agendas are negotiated in action research. We conclude with some critical reflections on lessons learnt, highlighting the importance of acknowledging the exploratory nature of PAR and the critical role of the researcher as facilitator.

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