This thesis explores leadership from an inverted or inner perspective of a leader. It draws on humanistic, psychological approaches to leadership, and develops a theory of systemic, constructivist leadership. While systemic, constructivist concepts are well known and accepted methods in therapy, counselling, coaching, and organisational consulting, in leadership there is still a gap between theory and practise. In this study systemic, constructivist ideas such as self-organization of human systems, radical constructivism, and systems theory are transferred, through an experiential learning project to leadership practise. Previous research (Steinkellner, 2005) indicated that in addition to the understanding of systemic theory and the application of systemic interventions, the specific mental attitude of a leader is required. So this thesis (1) explores the qualities of the mental attitude of a systemic, constructivist leader, (2) reflects on the transformation of the self of a leader in an experiential learning process, and (3) develops a theory of systemic, constructivist leadership. The methodology is heuristic inquiry, which involves the subjectivity of the researcher, and includes introspective procedures such as self-searching, self-dialogue, and self-discovery (Moustakas, 1990). Its focus on the inner perspective of a leader is unusual, if not unique. Various concepts from humanistic psychology including tacit knowledge (Polanyi & Sen, 2009), awareness (Perls, 1973), and focusing (Gendlin, 2003) were applied to transcend the concept of rationality both in science and in business. The main contributions of this study are: the description of a theory of systemic, constructivist leadership and; the design of appropriate training to implement this.

The purpose of the thesis is to explore excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning (EBL), its philosophical underpinnings, pedagogical implications and possibilities. How pedagogic devices can be used to encourage tutors' reflections on EBL, and is concerned with producing and sharing knowledge in relation facilitating student-centred teaching and learning practices. The study is in the tradition of practitioner research, where my role was that of an educational developer at the Centre for Excellence in Enquiry-based Learning. It is centred around the development of EBL models as pedagogic instruments to facilitate tutors' reflections on their practice. The thesis investigates how to facilitate the incorporation of more student-centred approaches into tutors' practice in a UK university through employing EBL models as a tool for reflection, how these models were introduced to tutors, and the findings from the process. A critical action research approach was undertaken for the educational development practitioner research journey. The primary methods of data collection consisted of interviews with students and tutors, and data obtained during individual reflections and group discussions in a series of workshops that involved tutors studying EBL models. Thirty-one tutors were involved in these workshops and interviews where they quantitatively and qualitatively explored multiple dimensions of teaching and learning. Content analysis of the results was conducted on the data with an emphasis on dilemma analysis to gain insights into tutors' decisions about their practice, and an empirical abductive strategy was employed to inform the development of new EBL models. In the course of the action research phases two new EBL models were iteratively developed informed by the literature and stakeholders. Finally, a new Student Involvement in Learning and Teaching Model was proposed, empirically abducted from student narratives derived from photo-elicited interviews. This Model constituted the development of a new conceptual framework for thinking about EBL within the context of broader teaching and learning practice. This study articulates new student involvement dimensions which conveyed the nature of power within the proximal processes of teaching and learning. The thesis contributes towards the practice of educational development by documenting both the process and outcomes of introducing EBL and learning and teaching models to tutors as reflective instruments, and by proposing a new perspective on excellence in EBL where student involvement is enhanced when reciprocal power relationships exist in the proximal processes between tutors and students. Tutor decisions were framed as a series of dilemmas created by external contextual influences (the University social micro, meso, exo and macro-systems); and internal factors (the tutors' personal force-resource characteristics) which affected tutors' reported actual and espoused ideal practice. The data demonstrated that most tutors espoused including more EBL, but they preferred an incremental change in their practice.

This thesis investigates how teachers navigate Common Core State Standards, high-stakes testing, and teacher evaluation while creating their own curriculum to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. As a former teacher, I conducted a practitioner research case study of four successful colleagues in a bilingual Pre-K-8 school in Washington, DC. When given flexibility in curriculum, teachers integrated knowledge from their relationships with students to foster a caring environment that supports learning and created their own systems of accountability by deciding what data matters. Teachers centered student engagement as what drives their curriculum and used a variety of differentiation methods based on their own “toolbox” of instructional strategies. Findings suggest a flexible curriculum model allows teachers to be curriculum makers who actively go beyond the standards to integrate knowledge from their practice and relationships with students to create curriculum that successfully supports language learners.

Using elements of design experiment research and autoethnography, this action research project investigated how viewing learning as complex participation in a community of practice characterized by mathematical inquiry impacted my teaching practice in a grade 10 Applied Mathematics class in a rural Manitoba high school. This report of the research project describes and analyzes both my attempts to change my teaching practice by drawing on theories of learning mathematics as complex participation in a community of practice and the changes that resulted from these attempts. The analysis focuses on the characteristics of a community of practice characterized by mathematical inquiry, how I attempted to foster such a community, what challenges I faced when I changed my teaching practice in this way, and how insights from this practitioner research project can inform the teaching of mathematics as well as theorizing about the learning of mathematics.

This thesis investigates how teachers navigate Common Core State Standards, high-stakes testing, and teacher evaluation while creating their own curriculum to meet the needs of culturally and linguistically diverse students. As a former teacher, I conducted a practitioner research case study of four successful colleagues in a bilingual Pre-K-8 school in Washington, DC. When given flexibility in curriculum, teachers integrated knowledge from their relationships with students to foster a caring environment that supports learning and created their own systems of accountability by deciding what data matters. Teachers centered student engagement as what drives their curriculum and used a variety of differentiation methods based on their own “toolbox” of instructional strategies. Findings suggest a flexible curriculum model allows teachers to be curriculum makers who actively go beyond the standards to integrate knowledge from their practice and relationships with students to create curriculum that successfully supports language learners.

Using elements of design experiment research and autoethnography, this action research project investigated how viewing learning as complex participation in a community of practice characterized by mathematical inquiry impacted my teaching practice in a grade 10 Applied Mathematics class in a rural Manitoba high school. This report of the research project describes and analyzes both my attempts to change my teaching practice by drawing on theories of learning mathematics as complex participation in a community of practice and the changes that resulted from these attempts. The analysis focuses on the characteristics of a community of practice characterized by mathematical inquiry, how I attempted to foster such a community, what challenges I faced when I changed my teaching practice in this way, and how insights from this practitioner research project can inform the teaching of mathematics as well as theorizing about the learning of mathematics.

Adults working as teachers and doctors can find it difficult to communicate well with young people about the issues that affect their wellbeing and learning and thus miss opportunities to contribute when their clients experience adversity. Drama is often used as a pedagogical tool to assist people to develop their communication skills. Dramatic portrayals however, can reinforce rather than challenge limiting stereotypes, and there is the potential for learning through drama to contribute to a patronising world-view and lead to the assumption that a set of formulaic approaches can bridge the communication divide. There is thus a need for research that engages both theoretically and technically with the use of drama as a tool for applied learning. In this thesis, a reflective practitioner methodology is used to explore the use of drama as a method in participatory enquiry and as a tool in the professional education of teachers and doctors. Use of the practitioner perspective permits analysis of the alignment between theory and practice. The Learning Partnerships project provides the context within which to conduct this enquiry. In this project the researcher leads drama workshops that bring together classes of school students and tertiary students completing their studies in medicine or education. The adolescents work as co-investigators with the teachers and doctors, exploring how to communicate effectively in the institutional contexts of schools and clinics.

[pt] Inserido na área da Linguística Aplicada (MOITA LOPES, 2006, 2013), este estudo tem como objetivos buscar maiores entendimentos acerca do trabalho do professor de inglês nos primeiros anos de escolarização, da escola como lugar de afetos e sobre a participação das crianças na pesquisa. Juntos, professora e alunos, crianças de 10-11 anos, lançam um olhar reflexivo sobre a vida na sala de aula em uma escola da rede particular no Rio de Janeiro. Sendo um trabalho colaborativo, caracteriza-se como uma pesquisa qualitativa, interpretativa e interdisciplinar (DENZIN; LINCOLN, 2006), baseada nos princípios da Prática Exploratória (ALLWRIGHT; HANKS, 2009; MILLER, 2010; MILLER; CUNHA, 2017; HANKS, 2017), uma modalidade da pesquisa do praticante (COCHRAN-SMITH; LYTLE, 2009). O conjunto de dados foi gerado no horário escolar com o consentimento dos sete participantes e de seus responsáveis. As Atividades Pedagógicas com Potencial Exploratório (BARRETO et al., 2019) incluem textos escritos em inglês e desenhos realizados pelos alunos, integrando práticas pedagógicas à pesquisa. Tais atividades foram utilizadas como oportunidades para estimular as conversas individuais gravadas em áudio. Os principais temas emergentes nas conversas exploratórias foram os entendimentos dos alunos sobre o professor de inglês, a escola e a colaboração na pesquisa. A análise discursiva dos dados gerados nas conversas transcritas tem como ponto central a avaliação a partir do aporte do Sistema de Avaliatividade (MARTIN; WHITE, 2005; VIAN JR., 2009; NÓBREGA, 2009), arcabouço teórico inscrito na Linguística Sistêmico-Funcional (HALLIDAY, 1994). A avaliação das escolhas léxico-gramaticais no discurso, com foco no campo do afeto, do julgamento e da apreciação, aponta para a maturidade reflexiva dos alunos ao expressar crenças e emoções acerca do contexto de ensino e aprendizagem de inglês. A análise detalhada do discurso contribui para o enriquecimento da pesquisa do praticante, levando à reflexões e ao reconhecimento da professora e dos alunos como produtores de saberes locais e como sujeitos-agentes da sala de aula. / [en] This dissertation, inserted in the field of Applied Linguistics (MOITA LOPES, 2006, 2013), aims at building understandings about the English teachers work developed in the early years of schooling, about the school as a place of affection and the learners participation in the research. The teacher and the learners, children aged 10-11, worked together to reflect on classroom life in a private school in Rio de Janeiro. With an emphasis on collaboration, this study is characterized as qualitative, interpretative and interdisciplinary (DENZIN; LINCOLN, 2006), as well as based on the principles of Exploratory Practice (ALLWRIGHT; HANKS, 2009; MILLER, 2010; MILLER; CUNHA, 2017; HANKS, 2017), a kind of practitioner research (COCHRAN-SMITH; LYTLE, 2009). The data was generated during regular school hours under the formal consent of the seven participants and their legal guardians. The set of data includes Potentially Exploitable Pedagogical Activities (BARRETO et al., 2019) and audio recorded exploratory talks. By integrating pedagogical practices and research, the activities were used as opportunities to stimulate reflections during the conversations. The themes that emerged focused on the learners understandings about the English teacher, the school, and their participation in the research. The discursive analysis of the transcription of the exploratory talk has as its central point the evaluation based on Appraisal Theory (MARTIN; WHITE, 2005; VIAN JR., 2009; NOBREGA, 2009), a theoretical framework inscribed in Systemic Functional Linguistics (HALLIDAY, 1994). The analysis of the lexical-grammatical choices in the students discourse, focusing on the sub-systems of affect, judgment and appreciation points towards the participants reflexive maturity, as they express their beliefs and emotions about the context of teaching and learning English. The detailed discourse analysis contributes to the enrichment of practitioner research, leading to further reflections and the recognition of the teacher and the seven students as producers of local understandings, as subjects-agents.

[pt] A Prática Exploratória tem permeado diferentes nuances do ensinoaprendizagem de línguas e da formação inicial e continuada de professores (ALLWRIGHT, 1998; 2003a; 2003b; MILLER et al., 2008; ALLWRIGHT; HANKS, 2009; NUNES, 2016; HANKS, 2017; GRUPO DA PRÁTICA EXPLORATÓRIA, 2020; MILLER; CUNHA; ALLWRIGHT, 2020), bem como, já há algum tempo, tem amparado as pesquisas nessas áreas (MORAES BEZERRA, 2007; RODRIGUES, 2014; COLOMBO GOMES, 2014; EWALD, 2015; MELO, 2015; BRANDÃO, 2016; NUNES, 2017; CÔRTES, 2017; MACIEL, 2021). Essas inserções teóricometodológicas da Prática Exploratória, portanto, me inquietaram a buscar novos entendimentos sobre o lugar de onde vêm e para onde irão os estudos em Prática Exploratória no ensino, na pesquisa e na formação de professores. Como praticante exploratório que sou, convidei seis professoras que têm ou tiveram contato com a Prática Exploratória em sua jornada de ensino, formação e pesquisa para, juntos, conversarmos sobre minhas inquietações. As conversas que tivemos são permeadas de histórias (BASTOS, 2005), e por isso, decidi analisá-las com a ajuda do ferramental analítico da análise de narrativas (LABOV, 1972; GEORGAKOPOULOU, 1997; 2007; 2015; DE FINA, 2015; MOITA LOPES, 2001; 2021; BASTOS; BIAR, 2015). Assim, amparado em um paradigma interpretativista (MOITA LOPES, 1994), atrelado à pesquisa qualitativa em Ciências Sociais (DENZIN; LINCOLN, 2006), bem como na Linguística Aplicada Contemporânea (MOITA LOPES, 2006; 2013), apresento, nesta tese, reflexões e discussões sobre a ecologia de saberes da Prática Exploratória, seus princípios e as ideias-força presentes na jornada de seis docentes exploratórias, bem como na minha própria. Por meio destas reflexões e discussões, chego ao entendimento (inicial) de que a Prática Exploratória tem se mostrado um caminho promissor para a construção de espaços de formação, de ensino e de pesquisa mais éticos, colaborativos, críticos, sensíveis ao contexto e às emoções de seus envolvidos. / [en] Exploratory Practice has permeated different nuances of the areas of language teaching and learning and of initial and continuing teacher education (ALLWRIGHT, 1998; 2003a; 2003b; MILLER et al., 2008; ALLWRIGHT; HANKS, 2009; NUNES, 2016; HANKS, 2017; GRUPO DA PRÁTICA EXPLORATÓRIA, 2020; MILLER; CUNHA; ALLWRIGHT, 2020), as well as, for some time now, has been supporting research on language teaching and learning and on initial and continuing teacher education at different levels (MORAES BEZERRA, 2007; RODRIGUES, 2014; COLOMBO GOMES, 2014; EWALD, 2015; MELO, 2015; BRANDÃO, 2016; NUNES, 2017; CÔRTES, 2017; MACIEL, 2021). These theoretical and methodological insertions of Exploratory Practice, therefore, motivated me to seek new understandings about where studies in Exploratory Practice come from and where they will go in teaching, research and teacher education. Being an exploratory practitioner, I invited six teachers who have or have had contact with Exploratory Practice in their journey of teaching, education and research to, jointly, talk about my concerns. The conversations we had are permeated by stories (BASTOS, 2005), and therefore I decided to analyze them with the help of the analytical framework of narrative analysis (LABOV, 1972; GEORGAKOPOULOU, 1997; 2007; 2015; DE FINA, 2015; MOITA LOPES, 2001; 2021; BASTOS; BIAR, 2015). Thus, based on an interpretive paradigm (MOITA LOPES, 1994), within qualitative research in Social Sciences (DENZIN; LINCOLN, 2006), as well as in Contemporary Applied Linguistics (MOITA LOPES, 2006; 2013), I present, in this thesis, reflections and discussions on the ecology of knowledge of Exploratory Practice, its principles and the ideas-strength present in the journey of six exploratory teachers, as well as in my own. Through these reflections and discussions, I come to the (initial) understanding that Exploratory Practice has shown itself to be a promising path for the construction of more ethical, collaborative, critical, sensitive to the context and to the emotions of the people involved in it.

[pt] Ao refletir sobre as minhas motivações para ser membro do grupo de Prática Exploratória do Rio de Janeiro desde 2016, senti-me instigada a entender quais seriam as razões pelas quais outras colegas fazem parte deste grupo por mais tempo e continuam sendo bastante participativas. Assim, esta tese tem por objetivo analisar as percepções sobre o que motiva três professoras a permanecerem no grupo por quase três décadas. A partir de suas falas, busco compreender o que significa para elas a sustentabilidade nesse movimento de trabalhar para entender. Para isto, recorro a um arcabouço interdisciplinar que contempla os conceitos teóricos da Prática Exploratória (MILLER ET AL., 2008; ALLWRIGHT, HANKS, 2009), que trata do refletir, do ensinar-aprender, da formação docente-aprendente, de fazer pesquisa. Os estudos de narrativas e avaliação (LABOV; WALETZKY, 1967; LABOV, 1972; LINDE, 1993, 1997; MOITA LOPES, 2001; BASTOS, 2004, 2005) são de grande importância para o presente estudo, uma vez que analiso os relatos de experiências profissionais e de vida das participantes. Apresento alguns conceitos que me permitem interpretar a relação de afeto sobre o grupo de Prática Exploratória e nas relações construídas sobre emoções (REZENDE, COELHO, 2010; ALBA-JUEZ MACKENZIE, 2019; LE BRETON, 2021). Por fim, o sistema de avaliatividade (MARTIN e WHITE, 2005; ALMEIDA, 2010; VIAN JR, 2009; 2010) me auxilia a mapear as marcas avaliativas nas conversas exploratórias entre as participantes e eu. A presente pesquisa se alinha a uma abordagem qualitativa-interpretativista (DENZIN; LINCOLN, 2006). Além disso, como a investigação se insere no paradigma da pesquisa do praticante (COCHRAN-SMITH; LYTLE, 2009), os entendimentos foram construídos de forma colaborativa sobre nossas experiências. Por ser uma pesquisa desenvolvida por membros do grupo, este estudo também se configura como autoetnográfico (BOCHNER, ELLIS, JONES, 2016). Os registros para análise foram gerados colaborativamente em conversas exploratórias (MILLER, 2001), gravadas e transcritas conforme convenções baseadas na Análise da Conversação (BASTOS, BIAR, 2015). Entendo que as percepções das participantes acerca dos eventos narrados durante nossas conversas são construções sociais e culturais que se formaram ao longo de suas vivências e as levaram a se afiliar ao grupo. Nossas emoções e crenças nos levaram ao grupo da Prática Exploratória e nos uniram como uma comunidade de prática (WENGER, 2007). Dessa forma, alguns entendimentos emergentes sugerem que as colaboradoras têm percepções singulares a respeito das suas motivações para participar do grupo e do trabalho para entender que associo ao cuidado-amor que mantemos em nossas relações na comunidade. Cada colaboradora entende a sustentabilidade a partir de algum princípio diferente da Prática Exploratória, gerando assim, a possibilidade de propormos o conceito de sustentabilidades. / [en] Reflecting on my motivations for being a member of the Rio de Janeiro Exploratory Practice Group since 2016, I felt compelled to understand what would be the reasons for three other colleagues to have been part of this group for almost three decades and continue to be very engaged in the group activities. From their discourse, I seek to understand what sustainability means for them in this movement of working to understand. To analyze the data, an interdisciplinary framework was utilized. The following theoretical components were: Exploratory Practice (MILLER ET AL., 2008; ALLWRIGHT AND HANKS, 2009), which deals with reflection, teaching-learning, teacher-learner training, doing research; narrative and evaluation studies (LABOV; WALETZKY, 1967; LABOV, 1972; LINDE, 1993, 1997; MOITA LOPES, 2001; BASTOS, 2004, 2005), which are of great importance for this research, in order to analyze narratives of professional experiences and participants lives; some concepts which enable me to interpret in the collaborators speeches a relationship of affect in relation to the Exploratory Practice group and to the relationship built (REZENDE, COELHO, 2010; ALBA-JUEZ MACKENZIE, 2019; LE BRETON, 2021); Appraisal Theory (MARTIN and WHITE, 2005; ALMEIDA, 2010; VIAN JR, 2009; 2010) helps me to map the evaluative marks in the exploratory conversations between the participants and me. This research adopts a qualitative-interpretivist approach (DENZIN; LINCOLN, 2006) to the investigation of the Practitioner Research paradigm (COCHRAN-SMITH; LYTLE, 2009). As the research was developed by members of the group, this study is also considered as autoethnographic (BOCHNER, ELLIS, JONES, 2016) and the understandings were constructed collaboratively. Data were collaboratively generated in exploratory conversations (MILLER, 2001), recorded and transcribed according to conventions based on Conversation Analysis (BASTOS, BIAR, 2015). I understand that the participants perceptions regarding the events narrated during our conversations are social and cultural constructions that were formed throughout their experiences and led them to join the group. Our emotions and beliefs brought us to the Exploratory Practice group and brought us together as a community of practice (WENGER, 2007). Some emerging understandings suggest that collaborators have unique perceptions regarding their motivations for participating in the group and their working to understand that is associated with care-love that we maintain in our relationships in the community. Each practitioner understands sustainability from the perspective of a different principle of Exploratory Practice, generating the possibility of proposing the concept of sustainabilities in the plural.