The Application of Writing as Method of Inquiry and Pedagogic Practice: the promotion and enhancement of teaching, learning, research and scholarly activity within a framework of continuing professional development.

Abstract

The project aimed to inquire into the application of different forms of writing as both method of inquiry and pedagogic practice. Therefore, the intended outcome of the project was measured in terms of the promotion and enhancement of teaching, learning, research and scholarly activity within a framework of continuing professional development. The focus group for the research activity will be HE in FE practitioners, who were identified as interested in undertaking scholarly professional development. The research considered: • How writing could be used as a method to inquire into learning; • How this could contribute to individual teaching practice and student learning; • How writing in itself could be constitutive of a rigorous research activity;

Through a series of activities that introduced through a workshop format HE in FE practitioners were encouraged to use, investigate and critically evaluate a number of different approaches to writing; these approaches included individual and group reflective writing (Moon, 2008), compiling parallel charts (Charon, 2006) and using autoethnographic observations in practice settings (Atkinson, 1991).