Action Research 3: War Art?

We had a very healthy third Drawing Reading Group – Action Research session. The process of research seemed really settled and embedded in this last session. All 3 students were together for the first time and the Kingston University visitor couldn’t make it. So it was an ideal situation to concentrate on our text and problem in hand.

Jill presented a 3 texts coming from different sources and introduced the story attached to each text to us. The discussion immediately turned into ethical issues around the integrity of the artist and the art machinery.



The most important point for me, from a pedagogical perspective, was when our discussion turned towards teachers that tear work apart, whether intellectually or physically. In fact, the conversation was so stimulating and pertinent that I am really tempted to include it as an appendix to my action research report. It really made recording the sessions worthwhile because I don’t think that bit of the discussion could be reproduced in any other medium, certainly not transcription, as the passion in our voices would have been lost. [note to self: get permission from students]



My note taking got more accurate and more copious. However, what really encouraged me was that all 3 students came back to me wanting to modify (Heinz to Haynes Car manual) or add this or that reference. This proves they have read the notes carefully and checked them for accuracy and rigour so they are a faithful account and a joint effort. Moreover, TC asked me if I wanted her to take the notes, which shows that there is an interest to continue this initiative outside the Action research project. It is understandable: one of the main issues for the students is attendance and critical mass and this would enhance both, providing report for people that were unable to follow the discussion but also as something that could be shown to people to invite them to come.


We all felt the benefits of the intensive discussion we have been having these last 3 weeks. Albeit having had a few false starts, I am incredibly pleased with the amount and quality of the data gathered (although I still need to collect 4 forms), the student response. I thank them very warmly and expressed my gratitude for having showed me a thing or two about research, which hopefully will be manifested in the report.

I am presenting the next session, which will be outside the remit of the project but which I may use as an epilogue. I have chosen a text by W. G. Sebald, a novelist. I want to revisit the theme of the vehicle, discussed in session 2, as it has been niggling me for the past couple of days…