So, where are we up to? Well, if there is one thing I know to expect from working with children it's that you don't really know what to expect. Over the last few weeks, there has been some active researching going on; this has been initiated and directed by the children, with (hurrah) ethics processes followed. There is now some emerging data from children in the Y5 class about their thoughts on history, how much they enjoy the subject, and how much they enjoy being taught it. Some of the group have independently (to my delight and surprise) taken the responses from their participants and written these up. In discussing what they have recorded so far, we have explored the use of follow-up questions, digging deeper and going back to a source to find out more; this has - in some cases - prompted a flurry of activity, with additional questions being composed. Looking forward to seeing how these questionnaires for interviews/surveys will yield more in the coming weeks.
Other members of the group have been trying out their research, getting to grips with recording data and grappling with digital recorders. I knew this already, but worth pointing out all the same: once you hand a child a device to record themselves/their friends, you are instantly providing them with an opportunity for unbridled fun. Great hilarity has been had by all within the group as Steve (not real name) has begun figuring out how to go about interviewing with a digital recorder; there is faux seriousness, mock posh accents, general noise, and much laughter. Whether or not use of digital will prove fruitful or not, only time will tell and I certainly reserve any sort of judgement.
But there has also been some tension in the group, prompted by the process of collecting consent forms. Again, this has taken me by surprise. For me, the process of collecting in consent forms, and administering these, is quite prosaic (as I have had perhaps a million of these cross various work desks through the years), but for the group, these are much more contentious. Collecting in or receiving these forms has given some sort of 'rights' to the recipient, and - it appears - there are allegations of withholding forms from other members of the group. It's not the stuff of political scandal, but it is real all the same, and a real learning point for me: this process needs to be explicit, with roles delegated and agreed, and useful documentation (i.e. simple flow chart) for all to see and understand what happens. Anyway, a mild crisis has been averted - discussion saved the day!
