Exploring Trans-Generational and Trans-Institutional Learning: Educational Action Research Possibilities in a Virtual Environment

Building on Woolf's (2020. "Exploring Pedagogies to Elevate Inquiry: Teaching Action Research in the Third Space." "Educational Action Research" 28 (4): 579--596) conceptions of `third space theory' this article describes how, in order to find continuity between theory and practice, the convenors of a network for educational action researchers created a `third space' to support knowledge creation in a trans-generational and trans-institutional community. Our approach to third space theory draws on Woolf's work which describes 1) perceived space 2) conceived space and 3) lived space. The article demonstrates a new understanding of third space theory as we seek to support professional knowledge creation amongst teachers and teacher educators. Key issues and challenges in the establishment of a values-based educational action research network and its move to an online setting are introduced. We explain the generation of a living educational theory from the research community, which was convened by the authors. We have created both a face-to-face and an online professional development community of action researchers. The original contribution of this paper is the creation of an open and shared learning community to support action research practitioners in their processes of accessing, collaborating in and undertaking research. The significance of our paper is in the emergence of socially constructed knowledge in a fluid and flexible space that is underpinned by our lived values of inclusion and respect.