Conference, News

Conference registrations now open

Walking and Talking Public Pedagogies
November 28 – 29, 2019
Footscray, Melbourne

The annual Public Pedagogies Institute conference features a range of presentations, performances, forums and workshops across the diverse field of public pedagogies and is open to participants from many sectors.

The conference will take place over two days from November 28 – 29, at the Footscray Nicholson campus of Victoria University.

Keynote Speakers:

Stephanie Springgay

Stephanie Springgay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at the University of Toronto. She is a leading scholar in research-creation methodologies with a focus on walking, affect, new materialisms and posthumanisms, queer theory, and contemporary art as pedagogy. Her most recent research-creation projects are documented at www.thepedagogicalimpulse.com, www.walkinglab.org and www.stephaniespringgay.com. She has published widely in academic journals and is the co-author of the book Walking Methodologies in More-than-Human World: Walkinglab Routledge (2018), with Sarah E. Truman; co-editor of M/othering a Bodied Curriculum: Emplacement, Desire, Affect, University of Toronto Press, with Debra Freedman; co-editor of Curriculum and the Cultural Body, Peter Lang with Debra Freedman; and author of Body Knowledge and Curriculum: Pedagogies of Touch in Youth and Visual Culture, Peter Lang.

Tony Birch

Tony Birch is a renowned academic, author, educator and researcher. In 2015, Dr Birch joined VU as the first recipient of the University’s Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship. His research interests centre on climate change and indigenous knowledge systems. His highly acclaimed novels include Shadowboxing (2006),  Father’s Day (2009),  Blood (2011),  The Promise (2014), Ghost River (2015) and most recently, The White Girl (2019). In 2017 he was awarded the Patrick White Literary Award for his contribution to contemporary Australian literature.

More details about the conference here.

PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT   

Wednesday 27th November  11 am – 12 pm,
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Whau Conversations: Hikoi – a walking workshop with artists from Aotearoa/New Zealand in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

Find out more about the pre-conference event here.

Conference, Events, News

Whau Conversations: Hikoi

PRE-CONFERENCE EVENT   

Wednesday 27th November  11 am – 12 pm,
Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne

Whau Conversations: Hikoi – a walking workshop with artists from Aotearoa/New Zealand in the Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne.

Whau Conversations: Hikoi will consist of a collective walk with artists from Aotearoa/New Zealand presenting to and exchanging insights and reflections with participants in relation to the surrounding site they encounter during that walk. The walking event will take place in the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria (Melbourne), and focus on the New Zealand section of the gardens, where whau trees endemic to Aotearoa can be seen to grow almost like ‘weeds’ to some. The walk attempts to offer playful reflections alongside political and cultural responses to the artists’ and their participants’ current and former acts of collective walking. More than simply walking, the tactic of engaging in a hikoi will be explored. To hikoi in te reo Māori (the Māori language) is widely considered to walk with a purpose, from educational contexts, to social activities, to art practices, protest campaigns and other contexts. For all of us in this walk we also intend to metaphorically ‘walk backwards into the future’, which is a play on the common Māori proverb ‘ka mua, ka muri’ (walking backwards into the future). This is where while facing forwards in our hikoi, we walk with our tupuna (our ancestors) and our histories who are before us and in facing them and these things through our korero (discussions). We aim to develop new understandings and questions around them in relation to the site in which we are walking in.

Artists walking, presenting and sharing will include Carol Brown (VCA, The University of Melbourne), Christina Houghton (AUT), Alexandra Bonham, Saskia Schut (UTS), Kathy Waghorn (The University of Auckland), Mark Harvey (Mata Waka iwi, The University of Auckland) and guests. 

Hikoi conveners: Kathy Waghorn (The University of Auckland) and Mark Harvey (Mata Waka iwi, the University of Auckland)

This walk will also have a follow up paper session during the conference – details will be available in the conference program.

Please email Mary.Dixon@Deakin.edu.au for a map and further details of the walk.

This event is part of the Walking and Talking Public Pedagogies conference, taking place on November 28-29 at the Footscray Nicholson Street Campus of Victoria University. REGISTER FOR THE CONFERENCE HERE

Featured image: Drop Kick (collaboration with John Court and Mark Harvey) ANTI Contemporary Art Festival, Finland, 2018

News

Towards a Werribee Curriculum

The Towards a Werribee Curriculum document is now available for download on our site here.

From the authors:

We sought to find the knowledge that comes from the community. This document is a record of the knowledge that is circulating now in 2018 in Werribee, Victoria. We decided to use the term curriculum as ‘curriculum documents’, as used by educational institutions, reflect a full body of knowledge.

The authors recognize that this is not complete – the task of accessing all the knowledge of every individual and every place in Werribee is larger than our capabilities.

The ‘Towards a Werribee Curriculum’ booklet contains a brief description of each area of knowledge illustrated by photographs from Werribee. ‘Towards a Werribee Curriculum’ will be of interest to those who wish to know Werribee and to local schools and community organisations.

Download Towards a Werribee Curriculum

Events, News

Public Pedagogies masterclass

Public Pedagogies:
an educational alternative?

Public Pedagogies Institute Masterclass 2019 – Peter Alsen M.A.

September 9 and 10, 6.00pm-8.00pm
Victoria University, City Flinders Campus

Registration $40, Register here

It is not a new insight that learning does not only take place in the classroom with an educator who teaches us subjects considered to be essential for our current or future life. Learning and teaching is complex, highly regulated and structured, whether in early childhood settings, in primary and secondary school or at tertiary levels. The purpose of this kind of learning is to involve individuals in the process of skills and knowledge development in order to gain independence and well-being. Everyday experiences in formal learning contexts continually demonstrate that education has become an important discussion in politics and economics, within society and for individuals.

Given this, where else do we learn – if not in the classroom, and what – if not something that is prescribed by curriculum authorities, and from whom – if not from a teacher who is accredited by the government? Indeed, why do we learn– if not for justifiable and socially expected reasons? To address these questions, you are invited to a masterclass which focusses on the concept of Public Pedagogies. Over two evenings, the masterclass will uncover more about Public Pedagogies and discuss educational alternatives to formal learning.

Day 1: Public Pedagogies: an educational alternative?

  1. The emergence of an idea – comparative analyses
  2. Three case studies deconstructed
  3. The basic elements of Public Pedagogies education
  4. What is Public Pedagogies about, part 1 – reviewing current directions of research

Day 2: Public Pedagogies –a response to discrimination and injustice?

  1. What is Public Pedagogies about, part 2 – socio-political inquiries
  2. Public Pedagogies in the intersection of education and the promotion of human rights
  3. Emancipatory education – the impact on individuals and society
  4. The functioning citizen vs the emancipated individual

Peter Alsen M.A.
Peter Alsen is a PhD candidate and research assistant at the School of Education and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Deakin University. A former early childhood educator, his doctoral research focuses on the intersection of politics, law and education, entitled “Concepts of Early Childhood Education and Care in Australia and Germany.” Peter holds a Masters’ degree in political science, law and psychology with a published monograph in the field of critical legal studies “Human Rights between Universalism and Particularism” (in German).

One of Peter’s major research interests is human rights and their transfer and implementation into everyday life such as social inclusion, equality, individual freedom and political participation. Other areas of concentration are critical legal studies, human social environments, social-pedagogical approaches, various forms of learning and the concept of public pedagogy and its effects on individuals and society. Peter aims to critically re-examine current societal and political environments and to contribute new ideas and concepts for change.

Conference, News

Call for Papers

The Public Pedagogies Institute warmly invites proposals for papers/workshops around the conference theme Walking and Talking Public Pedagogies. The conference will take place on the 28th and 29th of November 2019 at Victoria University, Melbourne.

This conference is interested in how thinking is disrupted and re-imagined through the act of walking. What are the possibilities that open up when we are in the realm of streets, parks, river banks or transport hubs? As we walk through our suburbs or our towns do these spaces impact on our thinking in generative ways? Do they entail pedagogical moments and how might these be defined? Together with walking this conference is also about talking. This is the International Year of Indigenous Languages. What do languages enable? For the Public Pedagogies Institute, we ask what are the affordances and constraints of Indigenous languages in public places. How does the use of these languages effect an understanding of place and the public? 

We welcome and invite a range of submissions–informal presentations, academic papers, workshops, screenings–and encourage a diversity of sectors to participate in two days of ideas-sharing and networking on our theme.

Submissions of no more than 300 words will be accepted up until June 30, 2019.

All submissions should be accompanied by a 100 word biographical note. Please send to karen.charman@vu.edu.au

Keynote Speakers:

We are excited to announce our first keynote speaker

Stephanie Springgay is an Associate Professor in the Department of Curriculum, Teaching, and Learning at the University of Toronto. She is a leading scholar in research-creation methodologies with a focus on walking, affect, new materialism and posthumanism, queer theory, and contemporary art as pedagogy. Her most recent research-creation projects are documented at www.thepedagogicalimpulse.com, www.walkinglab.org and www.stephaniespringgay.com. She has published widely in academic journals and is the co-author of the book Walking Methodologies in More-than-Human World: Walkinglab Routledge (2018), with Sarah E. Truman; co-editor of M/othering a Bodied Curriculum: Emplacement, Desire, Affect, University of Toronto Press, with Debra Freedman; co-editor of Curriculum and the Cultural Body, Peter Lang with Debra Freedman; and author of Body Knowledge and Curriculum: Pedagogies of Touch in Youth and Visual Culture, Peter Lang.

We are pleased to announce our second keynote speaker for this year’s Public Pedagogies Conference—author Tony Birch.

In 2015, Dr Tony Birch joined VU as the first recipient of the University’s Dr Bruce McGuinness Indigenous Research Fellowship. Dr Birch is a renowned academic, author, educator and researcher. His research interests centre on climate change and indigenous knowledge systems. Dr Birch’s books includeShadowboxing (2006), Father’s Day (2009), Blood (2011), The Promise (2014) and Ghost River (2015). In 2017 he was awarded the Patrick White Literary Award for his contribution to contemporary Australian literature.

Call for PapersDownload
Events, News

The ethics and politics of research-creation with diverse publics

Presenter: Stephanie Springgay, University of Toronto

Thu., 14 March 2019
5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Melbourne Graduate School of Education

Feminist scholars argue that we need research practices that break with ableist, racist, extractive, and settler colonial logics, and instead focus on ones that are situated, relational, and accountable. As such researchers are urgently turning to new ways of doing research and taking action, including research-creation practices that are responsive to the needs of communities and stewardship. This talk will emphasize the importance of queer feminist, anti-racist, and anti-colonial frameworks influenced by feminist new materialisms, affect theory, and queer theory. To contextualize these situated ways of doing research a number of exemplifications with diverse publics will be shared.


Stephanie Springgay is an Associate Professor at the University of Toronto. She is a leading scholar of research-creation with a focus on walking, affect, queer theory, and contemporary art as pedagogy. Her SSHRC-funded research-creation projects include: WalkingLab (www.walkinglab.org) and The Pedagogical Impulse (www.thepedagogicalimpulse.com). She has published widely on contemporary art, curriculum studies, and qualitative research methodologies www.stephaniespringgay.com

To find out more about this event and book tickets please go to:

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/the-ethics-and-politics-of-research-creation-with-diverse-publics-tickets-57058881651

News

2018 in review

A note from the President:

Hi Everyone,

This is just a brief note to wind up our work this year at the Public Pedagogies Institute.  We have had some really interesting events and projects in development over the past twelve months. 

We began the year thinking through ideas of how to re-structure the Institute. We have moved more formally into sub groups that consist of the Pop Up School and Knowledge Project, Research, Conference Organisation and the Journal. All of these sub-groups are open to anyone who wants to get involved.  We had some discussion about whether we would stick to the monthly general meeting structure or just have reports from sub groups. Most people felt a strong connection to the monthly general meetings so these will continue.

Like all volunteer organisations, people contribute what they can. Having said that we are keen for people to pick up on work within one of the sub-groups as this helps the whole of PPI tick over.

We had a great one day symposium this year co-hosted by PPI, The City of Greater Geelong and Deakin University.  The work that is being undertaken in Geelong is fascinating. The City of Greater Geelong has as its motto ‘A clever and creative future: it’s in our hands’. This self- determining emphasis is in line with our Institute. We look forward to a stronger presence there next year working alongside people who are contributing to the learning and teaching that takes place in community.

Once again, we partnered with the City of Wyndham with a Pop Up School and Knowledge Project in Point Cook. Despite the weather–it actually rained–the day was very successful. Point Cook is a vibrant community. We have only undertaken a few interviews there but I can say one theme that emerges strongly is of a future focused community. We look forward to interviewing more people to broaden our understanding of the depth of knowledge that is Point Cook. Thank you to the people who came and helped out at the Pop Up School day this year.

We have almost completed our next curriculum iteration, Toward a Werribee Curriculum that we will launch in February next year. We will keep you posted on the actual date and place.

Point Cook Pop Up School

This year we had another fantastic conference, Transmissions: Knowledges and Public Spaces. Our two keynote speakers Jake Burdick from Purdue University and artist Charlotte Courtois, were really engaging. We thank them for making the effort to fly to the other side of the world!

I was also pleased to announce at the conference the inaugural recipient of the ‘Life Time Achievement Award in Public Pedagogy’, Professor Maureen Ryan. We acknowledge Maureen’s ongoing contribution to the field.

The conference attracted an eclectic mix of people and featured a diverse range of presentations and workshops. We thank everyone for their contributions.

This year we partnered with the VU Polytechnic Event Management and Hospitality students who assisted us in running the event. This partnership is in keeping with the Institute’s openness to knowledge contributions from the broadest possible spaces.

I would like to thank Victoria University, Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities for making funding available to support the conference.

The Conference also saw the launch of the third edition of the Journal of Public Pedagogies. You can read this year’s edition on our website. The Journal is also co-hosted by the library at Victoria University and we thank them for their support (See https://jpp.vu.edu.au/index.php/jpp).

Next year the Journal will be a special edition on walking methodologies edited by Stephanie Springgay, who will also be the keynote speaker at our 2019 conference, and Sarah E Truman. 

Thanks for all of your support this year. I look forward to seeing you next year as we move the work of the Institute forward.

Dr Karen Charman
President Public Pedagogies Institute

Conference Dates 2019

The dates for next year’s conference will be November 28 – 29.

Please contact us if you have any proposals for workshops or presentations.

Download flyer for the 2019 Conference

News, Projects

PACT: Portable Art Connections Toolkit

Portable Art Connections Toolkit (PACT) is a kit for creating a collective experience of making stories and artwork about the things that matter to you and your community.

PACT provides tools for building creative agency and ethical storytelling, wrapped up in a hi-vis kitbag. It packages a starter set of props with a detailed user manual, prompting people to work together to make and share stories about things that are important to them. You can follow the workshop plan from the manual, or adapt it to use whatever elements are useful to your group and situation.

The user manual includes introductory information and a sequence of four workshops. There is an overview page for each of the four sessions, which expands out into a set of activities and discussion prompts to help activate the kit and facilitate the group’s collective experience. Each PACT artkit comes with six print copies of the user manual included and is suitable for use suits use with up to five participants, plus a facilitator. If you plan on working with a larger group, add more kits.

PACT aims to make visible how the practice of creativity is an enabler of personal, social, and collective agency. It was designed for young people aged 12 – 21 who have an interest in art or creative production of any kind, but you can use it with older or younger people too.

We’re giving away 200 artkits free of charge (including postage within Australia), so pop over to our website to find out more & request a kit! We’re hoping people will also use the website as a space to share images or blog about things they’ve done using the kit.

Vist us: www.pactup.org

Request the PACT artkit or start a conversation using the contact form on our About page.

Conference, News

Intangible cultural heritage and intercultural dialogue

The role of public pedagogies in transmitting intangible cultural heritage and promoting intercultural dialogue

Charlotte Courtois

As American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax warned, “if we continue to allow the erosion of our cultural forms, soon there will be no place to visit and no place to truly call home”. In this talk, Charlotte Courtois will discuss the role of public pedagogies in transmitting intangible cultural heritage as well as in promoting intercultural dialogue. Charlotte has been experimenting for 8 years, crafting workshops for children all around the world in order to develop their curiosity both about other cultures and about their own heritage. She will share the tools she uses and explain how the work of her association Konstelacio manages to put children in a position where they realize that they too – and not only adults – have cultural knowledge to share.

This presentation will take place on:

Friday November 23, 2018, 10.00am, Room T226

This session is part of:

Public Pedagogies Institute Conference 2018
November 22-23
Footscray, Melbourne

Register for the conference here

Interconnecting public, learning and research