Strategies to integrate children’s perspective into classroom activities. A participatory action research in two primary schools

Abstract

The article focuses on the strategies that the research team adopted in order to integrate children’s perspective into a participatory action research process that involved two primary schools in Northern Italy. These strategies have been adopted within a pilot action that is inscribed in the broader NEW ABC project, which aims to incorporate children’s and teachers’ ideas into the educational policies of various institutions. Since the project is based on the concept of co-creation, the activities of the pilot action are based on the collaboration between researchers, teachers, children, their families, and various local associations. Specifically, the article illustrates efficient strategies to elicit children’s ideas and integrate them into the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the activities. In the concluding discussion, these strategies are critically discussed in relation to their effectiveness in fostering children’s participation and social inclusion.