The child as a medium. Breakdown and possible resurgence of children's agency in the era of pandemic. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Amadasi, Sara; Baraldi, Claudio
• Is Part Of: Childhood. Volume 29:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 561
• Page End: 577
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Agency -- facilitation -- research methodology -- structural flexibility -- unpredictability; Children -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Children -- Research -- Periodicals; 305.23
• DOI: 10.1177/09075682221098156
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0907-5682

Abstract

This paper deals with the unpredictable outbreak of the pandemic, explaining its impact on the education system, and with structural flexibility as a way to face unpredictability, based on the generalisability and coordination of manifestations of agency. The pandemic has enhanced a narrative of the child as a medium of learning, which undermines children's agency. The example of the research project CHILD-UP (Children Hybrid Integration: Learning Dialogue as a way of Upgrading policies of Participation) is used to show how children's agency and structural flexibility in classroom interactions can be supported and analysed.