Thesis

Facilitating a creative pedagogical space to engage children with the topic of death and dying in schools

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Creator
Rights statement
Awarding institution
  • University of Strathclyde
Date of award
  • 2024
Thesis identifier
  • T16977
Person Identifier (Local)
  • 201769185
Qualification Level
Qualification Name
Department, School or Faculty
Abstract
  • In recent years, a significant amount of attention has been drawn to the topic of death and dying in schools from a rights perspective: concerning how children’s rights to be heard, to access information and receive timely support are not being met. From a practitioner enquiry stance, this study aimed to increase children’s engagement with the topic of death and dying by encouraging their participation in research through creative methods. Challenges faced by school staff are outlined in my practitioner enquiry and, subsequently, a systematic review was undertaken with a focus on qualitative literature involving children aged 3-18 and creative approaches to engaging children with the topic of death and dying. This concluded ways in which a range of creative methods were used with children in contrast to conventional research methods that are unfamiliar to them. Drawing on creative methodologies, the data collection tools used in this study linked directly to children’s classroom experiences. Resultantly, art, drama and music were used as creative methods to explore children’s engagement with death. In a group environment, children’s views were collectively considered through participative research design, methods and analysis. Thematic analysis was then used to discover prevalent themes from the creative data, and I worked with the participants to create a performance as part of this process. This approach resulted in a script which formed the basis of the findings. The findings indicated that children valued the opportunity to express themselves through the creative opportunities arising in the practitioner enquiry. This study outlines the quality dimensions of a pedagogic creative space that can be facilitated with children to explore topics such as death and dying. These include, not extensively: comfort zones, collaboration, elements of risk-taking in safe environment, non-judgemental practice and stimulating resources. When putting these recommendations into practice in a creative and pedagogic space, practitioners should consider the child’s social world which will determine how they perceive death and process grief.
Advisor / supervisor
  • Robinson, Anna
  • Paul, Sally
Resource Type
DOI
Date Created
  • 2023

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