Action research and polyphony: Learning from an Art & Philosophy Lab in a primary school
Hauptsächlicher Artikelinhalt
Abstract
This article discusses an action research project conducted in an Art & Philosophy Lab for children, aimed at addressing power imbalances in a school and transforming educational practices. The lab derives from criticisms of Dutch educational policy as increasingly focused on control and evidence-based education. The study found that art and Children’s philosophy are fruitful in promoting diverse voices and free action, supported by Bakhtin’s concept of polyphony and Biesta’s subjectification. The study was conducted in a multicultural primary school in Groningen, Netherlands, which faced systemic pressures and social complexities. The article explores, from an experiential perspective, the fruitfulness of two theoretical contributions in recent Action Research literature: conversational space in situations of power imbalances and wonder-based action research.
Keywords: conversational space, polyphony, subjectification, Children’s philosophy, art, wonder lab
Resumen en español: Este artículo analiza un proyecto de investigación-acción llevado a cabo en un laboratorio de arte y filosofía para niños, cuyo objetivo era abordar los desequilibrios de poder en una escuela y transformar las prácticas educativas. El laboratorio surge como respuesta a las críticas hacia la política educativa neerlandesa, cada vez más centrada en el control y en una educación basada en evidencias. El estudio reveló que el arte y la filosofía para niños resultan fructíferos para promover la diversidad de voces y la acción libre, apoyándose en el concepto de polifonía de Bakhtin y en la noción de subjetivación de Biesta. La investigación se realizó en una escuela primaria multicultural de Groninga (Países Bajos) que afrontaba presiones sistémicas y complejidades sociales. El artículo explora, desde una perspectiva vivencial, la utilidad de dos aportaciones teóricas presentes en la literatura reciente sobre investigación-acción: el espacio conversacional en situaciones de desequilibrio de poder y la investigación-acción basada en el asombro.
Palabras clave: espacio conversacional, polifonía, subjetivación, filosofía para niños, arte, laboratorio de asombro.
Bibliography: Beekman, Nathalie/Zeelen, Jacques: Action esearch and polyphony: Learning from an Art & Philosophy Lab in a primary school, IJAR – International Journal of Action Research, 2-2026, pp. 129-145.
Artikel-Details
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Titel: Action research and polyphony: Learning from an Art & Philosophy Lab in a primary school
Ausgabe: Vol. 22, No. 2-2026: IJAR – International Journal of Action Research