Sailing through a storm: The importance of dialogue in student partnerships

Authors

  • Kirsty Macfarlane La Trobe University
  • Jarah Dennison La Trobe University
  • Pam Delly La Trobe University
  • Damir Mitric La Trobe University Melbourne

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v2i2.3457

Keywords:

students as partners, academic development, curriculum development, power, resistance, threshold concept

Abstract

The following is our collective attempt—staff- and student-centric, both in terms of outcomes and reporting—to unpack the complexities of our collaborative endeavour in 2017. We juxtapose our respective experiences of navigating the “normative hierarchical university paradigm” (Mercer-Mapstone et al., 2017, p. 18) to present a more collaborative and balanced discussion of our partnership. We reflect on our “way of doing things” (Healey, Flint, & Harrington, 2014, p. 12) so that the partnership process is more visible, particularly in relation to the challenges and negative outcomes. An ethos of reciprocity (Matthews, 2017) influenced our thinking and practice, and we were acutely aware of the complexities involved in real-life exchanges between staff and students. We discussed power openly throughout our collaboration, and here we speak about its function as equal co-authors of our empirical story. We are frank about the challenges that we faced and do not shy away from discussing failures, as well as lessons learned. We hope that this will help others to critically analyse and reflect on their own practice and, in the process, fully explore the transformative power of student partnerships for individuals and their institutions.

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Author Biographies

Kirsty Macfarlane, La Trobe University

Student, Department of Politics and Philosophy, La Trobe University

Jarah Dennison, La Trobe University

Student, School of Education, La Trobe University

Pam Delly, La Trobe University

Associate Lecturer in Academic Development, La Trobe Learning and Teaching, La Trobe University

Damir Mitric, La Trobe University Melbourne

Senior Lecturer in Academic Development, La Trobe Learning and Teaching, La Trobe University

References

Cook-Sather, A. (2014). Student-faculty partnership in explorations of pedagogical practice: a threshold concept in academic development. International Journal for Academic Development, 19(3), 187-198. http://doi.org/10.1080/1360144X.2013.805694

Healey, M., Flint, A., & Harrington, K. (2014). Engagement through partnership: students as partners in learning and teaching in higher education. York: Higher Education Academy. Retrieved from https://www.heacademy.ac.uk/system/files/resources/engagement_through_partnership.pdf

Matthews, K. (2017). Five propositions for genuine students as partners. International Journal for Students as Partners, 1(2). Retrieved from https://mulpress.mcmaster.ca/ijsap/article/view/3315

Meyer, J., & Land, R. (2006). Overcoming barriers to student understanding: Threshold concepts and troublesome knowledge. London: Routledge.

Percy, A. (2014). Re-integrating academic development and academic language and learning: A call to reason. Higher Education Research & Development, 33, (6), 1194-1207.

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Published

2018-12-04

How to Cite

Macfarlane, K., Dennison, J., Delly, P., & Mitric, D. (2018). Sailing through a storm: The importance of dialogue in student partnerships. International Journal for Students as Partners, 2(2), 144–150. https://doi.org/10.15173/ijsap.v2i2.3457

Issue

Section

Reflective Essays