Reflections from Newfoundland
Diana Twiss

Apart from the amazing scenery and the warmth of our hosts, what has stayed with me about the Research in Practice Institute in St. John’s is the excellent way the conference was organized and the sense of community I felt.

The mornings were spent in preselected sessions where we could learn in depth about a topic of our choosing. I selected Jenny Horsman’s “Feminist Approaches to Research in Practice.” Other choices were Marina Niks’ “Getting Started on Research in Practice,” Joe Norris’ “Arts Based Research” and “Researching Literacy Practices” with Mary Hamilton. Over four days we worked with the same group of people, grappled with issues and ideas and, as a result, felt like a community of learners. In the afternoons we attended different inquiry groups or workshops.

A conference newsletter -“Midnight Express” - kept us all up-to-date on some of the emerging issues and offered playful commentary about the conference.

It was a fantastic gathering. I look forward to more meetings with this group of movers and shakers.

Diana Twiss is an instructor in the Community Development & Outreach Program of Capilano College.

References:

Chambers, Robert (1983). Rural Development: Putting the Last First. Essex, England: Longman.

Selman, Gordon (1975). A Decade of Transition: The Extension Department of the University of British Columbia 1960 to 1970. Vancouver: UBC Centre for Continuing Education.