Student Research Team
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“Research ought to approach children not as social ‘becomings’ but as social ‘beings’”
(Wall, 2022, p. 258)
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Because our study follows principles of community-based philosophy, which honours local stakeholders’ knowledge and aims for knowledge co-creation, we wanted to involve upper elementary students in the research process itself.
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Forming the Humble Researchers
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Led by Dr. Rae Ann Van Beers and Mrs. Dreann Wurban, we initiated an application and interview process. Grade 5 and 6 students filled out an application form and completed a face-to-face interview with Rae Ann in which they described why they wanted to be part of the research team, and what skills they believed they could bring to the study. Students were given the option to be part of the data collection (interviewing students) and/or be technology leads to learn how to use the GoPro, which was intended to be used for walking interviews as well as creating videos.
Eight students were “hired”, and the Humble Researchers was formed in January 2024.
Training the Humble Researchers on Interviewing
We facilitated a training session in January to explain their roles. The student researchers received a notebook with the University of Alberta logo, which was to be used for their field notes and video planning. Since “Dr. Bonnie” and the research assistants always wear a name badge on a lanyard when at the school, we wanted to create in students an official presence as co-investigators.
The training was held over a lunch hour and students practiced interviewing each other.
Rae Ann and Dreann continued with a regular meeting time during the week so that learning would be ongoing, and the student researchers’ momentum would be maintained. During one of the meetings, the group came up with the idea of using the GoPro to create chore tutorials that could be shared with families who volunteer to feed the animals during weekends and vacations. Students who were interested in doing that paired up and created a storyboard for feeding each of the animals (e.g. goats, chickens).
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Training the Humble Researchers on Using the GoPro and iMovie
In March, Mr. Shane Klein, the Media Team Lead in the Technologies in Education unit in the education faculty, came to New Humble School for an afternoon tutorial on GoPro basics, camera angles and shots, and the purpose of storyboarding for video creation. Students learned how to have steady hands while using the GoPro and how to select appropriate camera angles. One of the student researchers developed clear filming expertise, contributing to the project video on the landing page of this website!
Starting in May, Leah Peters, undergraduate research assistant, prepared and facilitated tutorials on using Mac computers to download video from the GoPro, and the basics of iMovie. Students expanded their computer skills, and learned key functions of iMovie.
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Co-Interviewing Research Participants
Most of the Humble Researchers wanted to participate in the data collection. They took turns assisting Dr. Bonnie with conducting interviews with K-6 students. The student researchers participated in selecting which interview question cards to use, and setting up the interview as a game (roll dice and select a question).
Students escorted the interview participants from the classroom to the interview room. Dr. Bonnie took care of the ethics requirements (explaining the study purpose and obtaining student assent), and the student researchers explained the game the interviewee would play, probed interviewees for more information (e.g. “Can you give me an example?”), and obtaining ongoing assent throughout (e.g. “Do you want to roll the dice again and answer another question?”).
Following each interview, students could select from a series of self-assessment questions that the Humble Researchers generated together during one of their research meetings to write brief notes on what they noticed about the interview process and their skills. These were great opportunities for Dr. Bonnie and the student researchers to discuss the development of their research skills. There was impressive improvement in the student researchers’ comfort in assisting with the interviews, probing interviewees for more information, listening patiently, and refraining from fidgeting and staying focused on the interviewees!
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Planning for Next Year?
We held an end-of-year research team meeting to review the students’ experiences. Leah made certificates for each of the Humble Researchers to commemorate their contributions. When asked if they would participate in the research team again if given a chance, they all indicated they want the project to continue. Stay tuned to see how the Humble Researchers’ journey develops!