Output details

Embodied Emotions: Developing a Child-Led Template for Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL)

(2010-11)

Research Project Description

This project, funded by the AHRC Beyond Text programme, investigated methods to help teachers and children meet the educational aims of Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning (SEAL). Through a series of schools-based workshops informed by an interdisciplinary seminar series (curated with QMUL’s Centre for the History of the Emotions), the project developed ‘X-Ray Eyes’, a template for child-led teaching of emotional literacy. Initially developed at Osmani Primary School (Whitechapel) with Year Five/Six students, the template was then tested with other year groups. A cross-cultural phase of research saw further trials and refinement of the methodology in Kolkata (India) and Kathmandu (Nepal).

Research Imperatives

To empower children to use interdisciplinary, cross-arts practices to interrogate and deliver the Government’s SEAL initiative.

To bring this practice into dialogue with a series of interdisciplinary seminars exploring the concept of emotional literacy and theories of emotional expression in artistic, scientific, medical, historical, educational and performative terms.

To test and refine the ‘X-Ray Eyes’ template through child-led national and international workshops.

Peer Assessment/Quality Indicators:

Invitation to present ‘X-Ray Eyes’ at Muktadhara Festival of the Theatre of the Oppressed, Kolkata, India (December 2010).

Invitation to rollout workshops with Mandala Theatre and KMC School, Kathmandu, Nepal (October 2011).

Screening at DocuFest, Leicester of project documentary by Bhavesh Hindocha (Loud Minority Films) (25/1/2012).

Research Outputs:

Lecture/demonstration at Taking Part Conference, Royal Festival Hall and Goldsmiths (29-30 October 2010).

Presentations made to AHRC Beyond Text colloquia (March 2010; May 2011).

A series of DVDs documenting the process of the development of ‘X-Ray Eyes’ and its peer-group testing.

Peer-trained cohorts of primary school children meeting the aims and objectives of SEAL.

Co-curation of seminar presentations by visiting scholars and artists.

Child-led workshops in India and Nepal testing and refining the ‘X-Ray Eyes’ template in cross-cultural contexts.