Adopting kind, democratic, and participatory approaches that co-design learning opportunities fosters student-led learning and engagement

Context: This roundtable explores democratising education through the embedding of co-operative inquiry into the curriculum. The authors’ research on educational practices leading to transformational learning experiences informs their approach. Cooperative inquiry is a participatory methodology that has been used by the authors to support a curriculum review and is applied within work-integrated learning, class-based exercises in intensives, and as an illustrative example in a first-year subject that engages students with community experiences (Duncombe et al., 2024; Lomas et al., 2022; Rose et al. 2024; Short & Healy,
2017; Whitaker et al. 2024). Feedback indicates that these processes foster transformational learning with sustained benefits. The roundtable will examine these examples and the potential to expand this approach to enhance participatory and democratic processes.
Description: This roundtable will introduce participants to co-operative inquiry through practical classroom examples and experimentation. It will address the question: How can co-operative inquiry democratise and promote kind participatory teaching and learning experiences that lead to single, double, and triple-loop learning? Reflections from colleagues who have applied this approach to curriculum development will be used as conversational prompts. The roundtable will examine examples of teaching across various contexts including:
o Student-led, transnational, rural-focused workplace learning
o Supporting PhD students
o Skills-based groupwork activities
o A first-year subject activities designed to promote inclusivity, active engagement and community connections
Outcome/contribution: This roundtable aims to share resources and strategies for democratising curriculum, and enhancing inclusion and participation through the application of co-operative inquiry. Insights into how this methodology can be effectively implemented to foster a more equitable and participatory learning environment will be highlighted.
Engagement: Through teaching examples, participants will engage in reflective discussions to identify opportunities, strengths, and challenges associated with the application of co-operative inq