WP2 Educational alliances

The prevalence of antisocial, aggressive and violent behavior among adolescents points to the emergence of new forms of educational frailty. It is therefore necessary to organize more focused and locally widespread educational initiatives aimed at strengthening educational alliances between the formal and non-formal systems so as to develop an educational community of care.

GENERAL AIM

The research has a two-fold objective: first, to reveal how non-formal educational service providers and upper secondary school teachers conceive the phenomenon of adolescents’ antisocial, aggressive and violent behavior; and second, to identify the epistemological and methodological parameters that these professionals adopt in order to address this phenomenon educationally. The results of this investigation will be used to launch processes through which the meanings educational practitioners act on can be transformed, developing and strengthening the educational alliances that are the hallmark of an educational community of care.

RESEARCH QUESTION

How can the role played by non-formal educational service providers and secondary school teachers contribute to building the kind of alliances that help address the phenomenon of antisocial, aggressive and violent behavior among adolescents, from the perspective of an educational community of care?

In line with Participatory Action Research, this initial more general open question will give rise to sub-questions which in turn orient the various research actions undertaken in the project (see “Actions” section).

TARGET

The research activity takes place in two areas of the Campania Region, the city of Naples and the territorial district of Irpinia, and involves educators working in non-formal educational services, upper secondary school teachers, and university professors and researchers. The results of the research (see section “Expected results”) are designed to reach a target population comprising educators and teachers, political decision makers, and professionals variously involved the pedagogical management of the phenomenon under investigation.

ACTIONS

The research is organized into 4 phases:

1) a systematic review of the literature, definition of the theoretical framework and selection of participants;

2) a participatory process to identify the categories through which educators and teachers conceptualize the phenomena under investigation and selection of case studies;

3) a participatory process to recognize and re-frame problematic situations in the educational communities chosen as case studies;

4) a reflection on the educational practices designed and implemented to resolve these problematic situations and how such practices might be transformed.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

The research will contribute to evolve our current understanding of the phenomenon in question by analyzing the educational practices enacted by teachers and educators in two areas of the Campania region. This outcome is intended to respond to the need to lay the groundwork for building authentic educational alliances in these areas with a view to fostering an educational community of care. The envisaged results are expected to impact both the educational professions and policy makers so as to enable a rethinking of local educational policies and practices.

Research area WP2 Educational Alliances is coordinated by Suor Orsola Benincasa University of Naples

Research Unit

Research Areas

WP1
Civic and social
engagement

To understand how curricular and extra-curricular activities promote the social-civic engagement of students of all levels through educational and research pathways.

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WP2
Educational
alliances

Educational frailty and antisocial, aggressive and violent behavior among adolescents. A participatory research-action carried out with educators and teachers in Naples and Irpinia.

WP3
Inclusion of
young people

Social and economic exclusion of young people. Pilot study to assess the potential of MOOCs to support young people neither studying nor working (NEET) with training and labor market integration.

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