Out-of-school learning spans varied formal and informal contexts and is hugely important for the lives of children. The need for time, flexibility, and agility in research within this field is highlighted throughout this multi-disciplinary edited volume, as each author reflects on how to make sense of the unknown and varied contexts in which out-of-school learning takes place.
A range of different case studies discuss research methods used, challenges faced, and ways challenges were overcome in relation to out-of-school learning are presented, followed by a series of critical reflections. The case studies include a range of research foci and methods, from large-scale quantitative secondary data analysis, through interviews and workshops, to ethnographic and participatory methods.
A series of shorter reflections drawing on all case studies consider the negotiation of the researcher role, building relationships, the ways knowledge is constructed, the role of place and power, keeping hold of messiness and complexity, ethical practice; and slow research.
The principles outlined in this volume are relevant for all research on learning, whenever and wherever it takes place whether in school or out-of-school.
Introduction; Janet Goodall, Jo Rose, and Liz Todd
Case Studies
Chapter
1. Case Study 1: Out-of-School Activities and the Attainment Gap: A
Mixed Methods Exploration of Secondary Data Analysis with Narrative
Intersectional Analysis; Karen Laing, Laura Mazzoli Smith, and Liz Todd
Chapter
2. Case Study 2: Developing Citizenship and Personhood through a
Youth Sports Charity Programme; Ioannis Costas Batlle and Ceri Brown
Chapter
3. Case Study 3: Researching the Unknown: Developing an Understanding
of Childrens Informal Mathematical Activity; Tim Jay and Jo Rose
Chapter
4. Case Study 4: Rhizomic Ethnography: Exploring the Lived Experience
of and After-School Minecraft Club; Chris Bailey
Chapter
5. Case Study 5: Research Co-Production with Young Women through an
Out-of-School Residential Trip; Jill Clark and Karen Laing
Chapter
6. Case Study 6: Researching Geographies of Youth Work; Ruth Cheung
Judge and Matej Blazek
Chapter
7. Case Study 7: Reflections on Position: Relational Agency in
Researching Everyday Maths; Jo Rose and Tim Jay
Chapter
8. Case Study 8: Destabilising Methodologies: Working Toward
Democratic Parent Engagement; Charlotte Haines Lyon
Chapter
9. Case Study 9: Using a Collaborative Theory of Change Approach for
Evaluating Out of School Learning; Karen Laing and Liz Todd
Thematic
Chapters
Chapter
10. Theme 1: Negotiating the Researcher Role in Out-of-School
Learning Research; Tim Jay and Karen Laing
Chapter
11. Theme 2: Building Relationships, Building Structure: Working
Together in Research on Out-of-School Learning; Jo Rose and Liz Todd
Chapter
12. Theme 3: The Authenticity and Value of Knowledge; Laura Mazzoli
Smith and Tim Jay
Chapter
13. Theme 4: Emplacing Learning, Emplacing Research: Performances,
Power and Inequalities; Ruth Cheung Judge, Matej Blazek, and Ceri Brown
Chapter
14. Theme 5: A Beautiful Mess: Keeping Hold of Messiness and
Complexity in Research; Liz Todd and Jo Rose
Chapter
15. Theme 6: Ethical Practice in Out of School Learning; Jill Clark,
Charlotte Haines Lyon, Tim Jay, and Karen Laing
Chapter
16. Theme 7: Slow Down: Relationship Building and Slow Research in
Settings for Non-Formal Learning; Ioannis Costas Batlle, Laura Mazzoli Smith,
and Ruth Cheung Judge
Concluding Thoughts; Janet Goodall
Jo Rose is Associate Professor in Social Psychology of Education at the University of Bristol.
Tim Jay is Professor of Psychology of Education in the Centre for Mathematical Cognition, Loughborough University.
Janet Goodall is Associate Professor in the School of Education, at Swansea University.
Laura Mazzoli Smith is Associate Professor of Education at Durham University.
Liz Todd is Professor of Educational Inclusion and Director of the Institute for Social Science at Newcastle University