210091 UE M2: Critical and Participatory Research Methods - Theory and Action (2025W)

- Preparation & Participation: Expectations include active class participation, including evidence of having reviewed assigned materials in advance of each class, contributing in an informed way to class discussion, and engaging fully in class activities, including group work, presentations, and plenary discussions. Because of the cumulative nature of the class, students are strongly encouraged to be punctual and to attend all class periods.

- Research Practice Portfolio: While the primary assignment for this course will be collaborative work on an authentic research project (see below), students will also have the opportunity to prepare and practice for that research through several incremental exercises, including reviewing research ethics, engaging around critical & participatory theory and methodological approaches, developing a research question, conducting a mini-literature review, and organizing all of these exercises into a culminating portfolio. Note, much of this work will be done during class time.

• Community-Based Research Project: A major component of this course will involve working in a team with 1-3 colleagues to complete an authentic project for a partner organization, city agency, or non-profit focused on some aspect of educational equity. This project should involve some empirical methods discussed in class and in alignment with the partnering organization’s research interest/s. The final grade for this assignment will be based on:
o Completion of a team and individual work plans (a schedule and delegation of tasks toward project completion)
o Submission of eight individual weekly project updates
o The Quality of the final group project (as assessed by the partner, peers, and the instructor)