The aim of this project is to access the knowledge, experience and views of a community of practice that play a unique role in working with marginalised young people. The principal methodology will be based on Community Philosophy (CP), a radical and innovative, iterative participatory process, designed to examine questions of meaning and value in relation to real world issues. The concluding phase of the enquiry process is a dialogue about how the learning generated can be translated into social action.
The lead researcher will train a small team from the Federation for Detached Youth Work annual conference’s organising group in the facilitation of CP / enquiry-based workshops and related methods of documentation. Following an initial explanatory presentation to the whole conference about the research aims and the methodology to be used, the facilitator group will each facilitate a small group workshop. Other members of the conference organising team will support individual workshop facilitators by documenting outcomes to a predetermined format, capable of identifying key themes and conclusions. Facilitators and documenters will feedback to a plenary culminating in a whole group enquiry.
All documentation will be provided to conference delegates who will be encouraged to integrate it and their learning into their practice. A select group will be asked to participate in follow-up interviews designed to explore outcomes. The impact envisioned is of enhanced learning, the suppression of a culture of, at best, modest engagement with the subject of digital inclusion (indeed, previous research has suggested to us a lack of confidence about the knowledge dimensions of digital issues leads to a preference for simply not engaging young people in this important topic of enquiry), building confidence to engage with this the issue of digital inclusion, and a greater commitment to integrating this into ongoing practice.
Team
Graeme Tiffany – Independent education consultant, trainer and researcher
Federation for Detached Youth Work