How do we enact ‘informed consent’?

As researchers we have a responsibility not just to inform participants about our research and its possible consequences, but to have confidence that participants are giving informed consent. So...

Being a ‘chameleon’: The role of ethical reflexivity in becoming a more virtuous teacher-researcher

Engaging in a hot topic session at the 2019 BERA Conference, we explored the notion that ethical dilemmas in the field are dynamic and constantly evolving, heavily dependent on both context and...

When walking on marshland, occasionally expect to lose your wellies

A consistent refrain of colleagues is that research ethics committees seem to be committed to stopping research. Nothing could be further from the truth. The contemporary research ethics committee...

Playing quiz-games on their phones: A winning combination?

With increasing attention on blended and mobile learning alongside an ever-increasing attempt to measure engagement means that we are constantly looking for ways or tools to help students achieve....

Halting the rise of character education in Britain

Character education has risen up the political agenda in the UK in recent years, as it has in a number of other countries. The United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Japan and Taiwan have...

Natural language processing: A tool for microgenetic analysis

Artificial Intelligence in educational research and practice

Microgenetic analysis is a Vygotskyan educational research method that supports uncovering student sense-making activity during collaborative learning. Investigating learning using microgenetic...

Rescuing educational inclusion for autistic children

There’s a distinct sense of weariness surrounding the issue of educational inclusion generally, with discussions dominated by metaphors of moribundity and decomposition. While some have stated,...

BERA Blog highlights from 2019

BERA Blog end of year highlights

A seasonal ‘yo-ho-ho’ to all our BERA Blog readers here in the UK and around the world in this, our fourth end-of-year-highlights special edition. The BB continues to grow, with more special...

Aesthetic education: Recent thoughts on old problems

Aesthetic education is usually concerned with the role of arts appreciation in students’ personal development. Its advocates often pitch it in opposition to instrumentalism, but in doing so,...