PARTICIPATORY LEARNING AS AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD: CREATIVE PRACTICES ON URBAN SPACE WITH CHILDREN

Year 2023, Volume: 26 Issue: 2, 192 - 208, 28.10.2023

Ayşe Yılmaz , Seran Demiral

https://doi.org/10.18490/sosars.1382521

Abstract

This article explores the possibilities of participatory learning with children in urban spaces, based on the idea that children are social actors within society, drawing from the sociology of childhood. To this aim, it offers an alternative to traditional learning methods by taking children's learning processes beyond the boundaries of the school. The research, conducted with volunteer students from different classes in a secondary school in Istanbul, aims to reveal children's perspectives on urban and cultural heritage, public spaces and environmental issues. Within a holistic understanding of the cultural heritage, which encompasses various ethnographic components transferred from one generation to another, researchers collaborated with a CSO and engaged with children on a weekly basis through creative methodologies to explore participatory learning.
Throughout the research, 35 children aged between 10 and 14 participated in a variety of activities, including city walks, museum and park visits and engaged in creative processes, producing visual materials and video performances, all with the aim of discussing different aspects of urban and ecological heritage utilizing the "philosophy with children" approach. The research aimed to support children's individual and social development. In various locations in Istanbul, cultural heritage was discussed with children through arts-based activities and digital tools, encouraging each participant to engage in critical thinking and creative production both individually and collectively. This study not only exemplifies participatory learning with children in urban spaces but also highlights the possibilities of conducting research with children in the field of sociology.

Keywords

Sociology of childhood, Children’s participation, Urban space, Qualitative methods, Creative research, Experience-based learning

ALTERNATİF BİR YÖNTEM OLARAK KATILIMCI ÖĞRENME: ÇOCUKLARLA KENTSEL MEKÂN ÜZERİNE GERÇEKLEŞTİRİLEN YARATICI UYGULAMALAR

Abstract

Bu makale, çocukluk sosyolojisi alanından yola çıkarak çocukların toplumdaki sosyal aktörler olduğu düşüncesi çerçevesinde katılımcı öğrenmenin olanaklarını çocuklarla gerçekleştirilen yaratıcı yöntemler aracılığıyla araştırmaktadır. Kentsel mekân deneyimlerine odaklanan çalışma, çocukların öğrenme süreçlerini okul mekânının dışına taşıyarak geleneksel öğrenme yöntemlerine bir alternatif sunma amacı taşır. İstanbul’da bir ortaokulda farklı sınıflarda eğitimlerini sürdüren gönüllü öğrencilerle gerçekleştirilen araştırma kapsamında çocukların kent mirası, kültürel miras, kamusal alan ve çevresel konulardaki görüşlerini ortaya çıkarmak hedeflenmektedir. Kültür mirası kavramını, kuşaktan kuşağa aktarılan bütün etnografik bileşenleriyle ele alan bir anlayış çerçevesinde, araştırmacılar bir sivil toplum kuruluşuyla iş birliği içerisinde çocuklarla haftalık periyotlarla bir araya gelerek yaratıcı metodolojiler aracılığıyla alternatif bir yöntem olarak katılımcı öğrenme süreci deneyimlemişlerdir.
Araştırma boyunca, yaşları 10 ile 14 arasında değişen 35 çocukla kent yürüyüşleri, müze ve park ziyaretleri; kentsel ve ekolojik mirasın çeşitli boyutlarını tartışma amacıyla görsel üretimler ile drama süreçleri; çocukların liderliğinde video-performanslar ve bütün bunlar odağında eleştirel düşünmeye dayalı “çocuklar ile felsefe” tartışmaları gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çocukların bireysel ve sosyal gelişimlerini desteklemeyi hedefleyen araştırma kapsamında İstanbul’un çeşitli mekânlarında, sanat odaklı aktiviteler ve dijital uygulamaların araçsallaştırılmasıyla kültürel miras konusu çocuklarla farklı yönleriyle tartışılmış, katılımcılar bireysel ve kolektif olarak eleştirel düşünme ve yaratıcı üretime teşvik edilmiştir. Bu çalışma, kentsel mekânda çocuklarla katılımcı öğrenme örneği teşkil etmesinin yanı sıra sosyoloji alanında çocuklarla birlikte araştırma gerçekleştirmenin olanaklarını ortaya koymaktadır.

Keywords

Çocukluk sosyolojisi, Çocuk katılımı, Kentsel mekân, Niteliksel yöntemler, Yaratıcı araştırma, Deneyime dayalı öğrenme

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