Abstract
Abstract Early transitions are on the rise across global and national contexts. However, resources informing teachers and families about best practices concerning infants, especially infant transitions from home to early childhood settings, are almost non-existent. In this article, the authors share the outcomes of an experiment that translated research from an International Study of the Social and Emotional Experiences of Early Transitions (isseet) project into a range of visual resources for this audience. They created a suite of video, infographic and meme visual resources that outlined ‘what works’ for quality early transitions and sought end-user feedback around their utility. While the feedback was positive overall concerning infographics and videos, end-users expressed strong negative responses to the use of memes. In the article that follows, the authors explore why it might be so. They draw on the Bakhtinian concept of genre. With its form, content and strategic orientation, they translate and interpret the meaning ascribed to the memes. They argue that the complex humour and cultural memory that sit behind memes grants them unique translation status. Reflecting on the responses, the authors consider pathways for memes as impactful research translation for end-users – in this case, early years teachers.
Highlights
Visual resources that translate research findings into accessible messages for end-users concerning pedagogies are increasing, but not always in holistic ways
We focus on the meme products that were generated through the Bakhtinian concept of genre
Our research focuses on both – our strategic orientations evidenced through the production of the memes in light of key messages from the research, and the sector responses we received
Summary
Visual resources that translate research findings into accessible messages for end-users concerning pedagogies are increasing, but not always in holistic ways. Infant transitions are heavily affected by adult community members, perceptions and practices (White et al, in press), stressing the importance of research-informed, supportive and visually appealing resources for this demographic. We translated key messages from the data into informal, easy to understand, contemporary visual genres that included videos, infographics and memes. In phase one of the project, we conducted a review of the existing resources that revealed a lack of infant transition resources across global and local contexts With this knowledge, we worked with the isseet international team to compile, discuss and reach consensus on key messages from the data about ‘what works’ for quality transitions. Each product from the suite would be shared directly via social media outlets, our intention was that the memes would complement as a secondary dissemination strategy that leads end-users to the products (McGrath, 2019), which is sometimes called ‘linkbait’
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