Co-Convening the Network of Educational Action Research Ireland (NEARI)

This paper explores my role as co-convener of the Network for Educational Action Research in Ireland (NEARI). NEARI is a network where action researchers convene and engage in critical reflection and dialogue around their practice. They examine how they might enhance their practice and, in doing so, seek a way in which they might improve their world. The paper outlines how I, too, might enhance my work with NEARI, as I develop my living theory. It is inspired by my values of social justice, care and inclusion. I outline how I draw on the work of Whitehead (2018) as I ask questions like "How do I enhance what I am doing?" and "How do I live my values as fully as I can in the process?" I claim that in NEARI, I work towards creating and maintaining a network as an environment in which people feel supported and cared for and where they can become active agents in their own learning process. Within that learning process, I also encourage people to embrace Living Theory and self-study action research for themselves. The paper depicts how I value myself as a knowledge-creator as I offer descriptions and explanations for my educational influences in learning. The paper begins with a background to NEARI and how it came into being. It then offers descriptions and explanations around NEARI meetings, their structure, the importance of short presentations at meetings and why NEARI is a safe space for NEARI participants. The paper concludes with issues and literature about my own educational influence on NEARI as well as some final critical reflection on my work in the network.