ERIC Number: EJ1446918
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-None
EISSN: EISSN-2560-7367
The Power of Introspection: A Collaborative Autoethnography Reflecting on Group Dynamics When Working with Students as Partners
Nikita Kalwani; Amanda Kelly Ferguson; Lori Goff; Kim Dej
International Journal for Students as Partners, v8 n1 p89-107 2024
This article presents the results of collaborative autoethnographical (CAE) research that investigated the group dynamics and processes of an undergraduate student, a post-doctoral fellow, and two senior administrators engaged in a students-as-partners (SaP) project. The CAE methodology allowed us to systematically, collaboratively, and iteratively analyze reflections on key takeaways from our experiences. We identified empowerment through learning and support and putting values into practice as essential components of working with SaP in mixed-role groups. This CAE research also substantiates the importance of negotiating existing power dynamics, as we identified a hierarchical structure within our group that we did not address during the actual project. Based on our group's dynamics, we suggest that active reflection and communication regarding intersecting identities, shared and individual values, and an openness to learning and growth for all group members are critical components of working toward equitable partnerships with SaP.
Descriptors: Autobiographies, Ethnography, Group Dynamics, Student Participation, Partnerships in Education, Student Empowerment, Power Structure, Undergraduate Students, Doctoral Students, Professional Identity, Values
McMaster University Library Press. McMaster University Library, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S $L6 Canada. e-mail: scom@mcmaster.ca; Web site: https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/ijsap
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A