What does it mean to be an early career researcher, and doing research or simply being within the academy? This is something that all four of the contributors have pondered, questioned, and debated numerous times. This blog explores the tensions we have faced so far in our careers and offers up stories of lived experiences and the possibilities for new ways of being, learning and doing academia.
All posts by PESN
‘Textbook Portrayals of Britain and the Holocaust’
My doctoral project explores the ways in which the relationship between Britain and the Holocaust has been depicted in educational settings: in particular, school classrooms and museums. This strand of my research focuses on portrayals of the British response in textbooks designed for use in schools.
Protected: “I liked school, but school didn’t like me”: reflections on the autistic mainstream primary school experience
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Discovering Poetic transcription
The data collection phase of my research was immersive. I was enthralled by experiences participants shared within interviews, the incidents they narrated, the emotional trajectory within the interviews, the expressions, the gestures, the ‘tells’ each participant had, the unique way they spoke, the language they used.
‘Why is death valuable to think about for education?’: reintegrating death within life for navigating vulnerable times
Spring 2020. The doctoral studies in education I was about to undertake began at a time when death became more visible than ever. From George Floyd’s murder, a singular story but socially connected to the disproportionate deaths of racial minorities, to the ongoing violent and lethal environmental disturbances, the spread of coronavirus joined the grim list of deadly events.
Exploring the construction of ‘disadvantage’ within English secondary schools.
I recently bought a greetings card with a quotation on it attributed to Charles Dickens: ‘An idea, like a ghost, must be spoken to a little before it will explain itself.’ This chimed for me with the difficulties that I have been having in deciding how to approach the analysis of my research data…
What would you like from PESN?
Today we held our very first informal coffee morning event on Zoom. We were delighted to see old and new friends join us, in a discussion about what our hopes and aims are for PESN. During the session we collated a Jamboard with some thoughts… Ideas included: Community/friendship Writing partners/buddies Pomodoro writing sessions Journal club…
Welcome!
Welcome to the Postgraduates in Education Support Network (PESN). PESN has been set up by Sharon Smith (PhD research student at the University of Birmingham) and Laura Watson (PhD candidate at the University of Winchester). We are both researching in the field of Education. We met whilst undertaking our undergraduate Education Studies degree at the University…