Student Voice Research Articles

Authoring Counter-Narratives: Showcasing Student Voice through Critical Stance

In this teaching tip, we provide a method for teaching middle and secondary English language arts (ELA) students to assume a critical stance while reading and responding to diverse literature and media. Specifically, we address the infusion of critical literacy as a pedagogy to enable students to engage in criticality by identifying negative stereotypes and harmful biases, and then take action by offering counter perspectives. We begin with a brief discussion on critical literacy as a means to promote critical stance, followed by the learning activities for classroom instruction and a student example to illustrate the power of critical stance to promote student agency. Our method for critical stance instruction draws upon Rosenblatt’s (1978) seminal work on literature-based instruction that reading is a transaction between the reader and the text and Leland et al. (2018) who explicated that readers need to engage in critical transactions—a dimension of critical literacy.

Factors that promote student well-being in schools: a scoping review of Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand literature

AbstractWell-being has been touted for many years as a critical factor in achieving positive outcomes for students in schools across Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, and globally. Despite extensive reporting of student well-being concerns, further research is needed to fully understand this complex construct. This paper presents a scoping review aimed at developing a comprehensive understanding of student well-being by examining key factors highlighted in the literature. Using the PRISMA-ScR approach, a search was conducted using Google Scholar to identify studies published between 2010 and 2023 that focus on student well-being in Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand school contexts. Additional relevant grey literature, including policy documents, contributed to this review. A total of 46 studies met the eligibility criteria for more detailed analysis. The review identified three primary themes influencing student well-being: the role of student voice, the impact of the physical environment (which we call perivallon), and the nature of student relationships with teachers, peers, and themselves. These factors were found to be interrelated, with relationships serving as both an independent influence and a mediating factor affecting the other dimensions. The literature review leads to a multi-dimensional complexity model of well-being. This model suggests potential mechanisms by which a small change to an external factor can have far reaching, and potentially unexpected, impacts on student well-being. The implications and limitations of such a model are discussed, and avenues for future research are suggested.

University Students’ Views on the Challenges Faced by Students with Difficulties

Introduction: The pursuit of an inclusive university is rooted in the commitment to ensuring equal opportunities within the educational landscape. Over the years, the notion of “inclusion” has significantly evolved, becoming a central aspect of individual rights. This shift has led to the development of various models and guidelines to provide equitable treatment to all students. Objectives: This study aims to explore the perceptions of students regarding inclusive education at a university in the north of Spain. It seeks to understand the reasons behind these perceptions, providing insights into the effectiveness of the current inclusion strategies. Methods: We conducted an online survey distributed across various faculties at a university in the north of Spain, with participation from 519 students. The data collected from the survey were coded and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS version 28 to generate descriptive and comparative statistics. Results: The findings reveal that 2.5% of the students have experienced discrimination at some point, with 2.9% attributing such discrimination to their peers. Furthermore, 25% of the respondents acknowledged the presence of discrimination initiated by the university itself. Despite these challenges, a significant majority (88.8%) recognize the importance of inclusive education. However, 43.4% of the participants noted that the attitudes of some faculty members towards inclusion were suboptimal. Additionally, 82.9% of the respondents believe in the necessity of enhancing collaboration within the entire educational community to foster better inclusion. Discussion and Conclusions: Overall, the students view the university as inclusive but identify a gap in the awareness and training necessary for achieving true equality. These findings indicate a need for heightened visibility of resources and the provision of further training and workshops. Although the response rate to the survey was relatively low, further research might benefit from engaging a broader spectrum of student voices, especially those from non-normative or divergent backgrounds, to deepen the understanding of inclusivity at the university.

Supporting Student Veterans’ Physical Activity in Their Transition to University

ABSTRACT Identifying physical activity promoting opportunities within the university setting offers a promising avenue to enhance student veterans’ transition to a healthy civilian lifestyle. Using an asset-based, mixed-method approach that included surveys and focus groups with students and interviews with university stakeholders, we characterize the experiences and preferences of student veterans on our campus and highlight opportunities to support their physical activity and well-being, with an emphasis on centering student veteran voices in future planning.

Beyond voice: Listening and silence in climate change education

ABSTRACT This mosaic essay reflects on the invitation to speak to a JME symposium on Education and Climate Change and the convenors’ request for participants to engage with the previous history of scholarship on education and environment in this journal. It begins by recognising that the world is still confronting deepening ecological and climate degradation, despite 50 years of calls for transformation and despite a long tradition of environmental and sustainability education. As environmental education becomes a form of ‘climate education’ that increasingly emphasises student voice and climate action in the face of seeming intransigence, this essay asks whether the capacity to listen deeply might also be a necessary feature of such education in a warming world. The mosaic form of the essay is both a reflection on the inadequacies and limitations of academic speech at this time, and an invitation to explore, with the reader, what it might mean to create spaces of listening and attunement to (human and non-human) others and to the self, in our work as academics and as educators.

The influence of student voice on teacher professional learning: A systematic literature review

AbstractStudent voice has the potential to prompt changes in teaching and foster teacher development; however, it is underutilised in teacher professional learning. Research on its impact is emerging, and a systematic review is needed to identify trends and themes. This review investigates current trends and themes in the influence of student voice on teacher learning from 2012 to 2023 within K‐12 education. Analysis of 19 empirical papers revealed irregular patterns of publications, a predominant emphasis on secondary education, and qualitative methodologies. Participatory research designs emerged as practical approaches, engaging teachers in inquiry processes and collaboration. Student feedback led to a transformative process for many teachers, prompting them to reflect and change their practice. Supportive school structures and leadership are emphasised for embedding student feedback in classrooms, engaging teachers and students in collaboration, and overcoming obstacles. This review demonstrated that when student voice is valued and acted upon, it can stimulate teacher development. A proposed model for teacher development incorporating student voice consists of three interconnected levels—school leadership support, collaborative practice and learning outcomes—ultimately contributing to overall school improvement. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

Can a zoom class be dialogic? An examination of a virtual English methods class

Purpose Synchronous virtual classes are becoming more common as universities expand access. However, instructors can feel hesitant as they move to a new style of teaching, especially if they are not sure their chosen pedagogy will work with virtual instruction. The purpose of this dialogic analysis is to examine the experiences of a dialogic teacher in a synchronous virtual English methods course. Design/methodology/approach The 75-min methods class met on Zoom twice a week. Class sessions were recorded. Dialogic analysis was used to analyze moments of whole-class discussion to explain what kinds of discussions happened and determine to what extent the class functioned as a dialogic class. Findings Overall, there was more student voice than teacher voice, and students spent over a third of the class in small group discussions. Even though the teacher still took over, and controlled discussions, the overall class maintained dialogic teaching principles. Despite this, the professor felt displaced for three reasons. In addition, some ideas for increasing the dialogic nature of the class are mentioned. Originality/value Synchronous virtual teaching will continue to grow, but as instructors move to that format, they can examine whether their pedagogies match the format. This paper explored one professor’s pedagogy of dialogic teaching and its compatibility with synchronous virtual teaching. This method of self-analysis could work with any pedagogy and could help instructors be successful in a new format.

Developing E-worksheet-based TPACK model for Junior High School Students in English Language Learning Context

Background:The goal of this study is at developing an E-Worksheet based on TPACK Model by using Adobe Animate CC and AI Voice. This research was conducted to overcome the students’ problem, the teacher’s problem, and instructional problem that occurred in Language classroom. Methodology:This study is a research and development project that used of the 4D development methodology. The four steps of this model's development are defining, designing, developing, and distributing. Observations, tests, interviews, and questionnaires are examples of research instruments. The e-worksheet was validated by 5 validators, including 2 material and language expert lecturers and 3 media expert lecturers. Findings:The percent formula is used to determine its practicality. The electronic worksheet is classified as very valid with the level of 84.2 % in material or content of product and very valid with the level of 85.9% in media of product. The result of the practicality of the electronic words indicated that the total mean score for all the items in the questioner was 4.5 with a percentage of 90 falling into the category of very practical. The results of the effectiveness test were obtained with a value of 0.81 in the high category. Conclusion:Based on the results of the study it can be concluded that developing an E-Worksheet in Describing words material based on the TPACK Model by using Adobe Animate CC and AI Voice for seventh grade students of Junior Islamic High School is valid, practical, and effective. Originality:The use of TPACK as a resource for creating teaching materials is quite effective

Integrating Youth Perspectives into the Design of AI-Supported Collaborative Learning Environments

This study highlights how middle schoolers discuss the benefits and drawbacks of AI-driven conversational agents in learning. Using thematic analysis of focus groups, we identified five themes in students’ views of AI applications in education. Students recognized the benefits of AI in making learning more engaging and providing personalized, adaptable scaffolding. They emphasized that AI use in education needs to be safe and equitable. Students identified the potential of AI in supporting teachers and noted that AI educational agents fall short when compared to emotionally and intellectually complex humans. Overall, we argue that even without technical expertise, middle schoolers can articulate deep, multifaceted understandings of the possibilities and pitfalls of AI in education. Centering student voices in AI design can also provide learners with much-desired agency over their future learning experiences.

The Digital Voice of Students: Analysing Emerging Themes in a Corpus of University Reviews

For higher educational institutions, reviews on Google Maps offer a free and easily accessible platform for students to express their needs and voice their concerns voluntarily. Such a platform can be valuable for capturing a wide range of academic and non-academic aspects that may not be manifested via traditional feedback instruments such as surveys. Accordingly, this study explores the themes that emerge in a corpus of online reviews collected from Google Maps of 29 Saudi public universities while also highlighting how such reviews form a public discourse shaped by the medium itself. To this end, this research employed an NLP advanced technique, namely BERT, to categorise the reviews into themes based on their semantic similarity. Then, a thematic analysis was conducted to reveal six main recurrent themes in the corpus: location and accessibility, facilities and infrastructure, academic quality and teaching, student support services, religious sentiment and gratitude, and community and social environment. The findings indicate that while Google Maps reviews capture a number of cultural and social aspects of university life, they inherently foreground physical (e.g., amenities) and logistical (e.g., location) dimensions. The paper also demonstrates how online reviews provide students with a platform to raise issues related to both micro-level (e.g., specific courses, amenities) and macro-level concerns (e.g., inclusivity), hence their potential value in contributing to the evaluative discourse on higher education institutions. These results suggest the need for a systematic engagement with online feedback platforms to promote continuous institutional improvement and cultivate an inclusive, student-centred educational environment.

Youth voices: A participatory approach to promoting mental health literacy through digital means

Abstract A concerning number of young people worldwide experience mental health challenges, often compounded by limited mental health literacy, such as a lack of knowledge about how to recognize mental disorders and strategies for seeking help (Cairns & Rossetto, 2019). Therefore, it is crucial to promote mental health literacy among youth. Due to the scarcity and often high cost of readily available mental health services, as well as concerns about anonymity, digital programs have become an alternative means of reaching youth. To this end, a digital prevention program was developed. The pivotal question now is how to effectively promote young people’s mental health literacy through digital means, more specifically: How to develop (1) evidence-based and (2) target group-specific content? To investigate these questions, two systematic reviews were conducted that analyzed a total of 65 digital evidence-based mental health programs. Since the active use of programs also depends on how suitable and appealing the content is for the target group, a participatory approach was chosen to actively involve the target group in the process of developing the program’s design and content. Therefore, four participatory workshops were conducted in Slovenia, Poland, and Austria, with 12-15-year-old students (N = 182). Selected results from the systematic reviews and cross-national results from the workshops will be presented. It was found that psychoeducation is an important and effective method for promoting mental health literacy among youth and that young people prefer this content to be delivered as briefly and concisely as possible, and in a multimodal format. The discussion will highlight key takeaways regarding the benefits and challenges of this approach, emphasizing the necessity of including student voices in the creation of psychoeducational content for a digital mental health program in order to highlight and recognize young people’s right to participate. Key messages • The value of youth participation - Involving young people in the development of content for a digital mental health literacy program is a means to increase its relevance and appeal to them. • The intricacies of youth participation - Involving young people in the development of a digital mental health literacy program presents challenges that require careful consideration.

An investigation of higher education in further education: preparing a new campus for higher education delivery

ABSTRACT One of the hallmarks of an ever-changing educational landscape is that students are paying considerably higher fees to study higher education courses, including those offered by college-based HE providers. As such, the student experience becomes of paramount importance to ensure student needs are met. To this end, this project sought to discover the best practice(s) needed to ensure a newly built campus is prepared to deliver college-based higher education (CBHE). Using a mixed-methods research design, the project investigated the new campus’ potential for further HE growth, particularly given that there is no higher education institute (HEI) presence in the location where the research took place. This research aimed to investigate how specific spaces at a new FE college campus can benefit HE students. By examining the design and utilisation of these spaces, the study seeks to understand their impact on student experience, community building, and the amplification of student voices in the decision-making process. The findings provide insights for policymakers and CBHE providers on creating supportive and inclusive learning environments that cater to the diverse needs of their student populations. The findings revealed that the HE student experience is constantly evolving, and demands for quality learning environments are increasing. In co-collaboration with a sample of existing students, a framework was established that colleges could use to purposefully improve their overall experience of studying higher education within a further education environment. This research is of use to policymakers, CBHE providers and their staff, and all stakeholders with a responsibility in CBHE.

A Systematic Review of Literature on Student Voice and Agency in Middle Grade Contexts

This systematic review analyzes the research literature on student voice and agency in the middle grades, focusing on middle-level schools, culture, and learning environments. The idea of student voice and agency was taken up as collaborative decision-making and/or student feedback on issues related to school and pedagogy. After a comprehensive search for peer-reviewed research (2015–2024), an article review framework was developed to determine how, where, and why student voices and agency were engaged in the middle grades. Three themes characterized the research literature: (1) passive student voice and agency: researcher-driven studies to gain understanding; (2) active student voice and agency: partnering with students to improve their learning experiences; and (3) activating the inner voice and agency: helping students to reflect on their own learning. The research on student voice and agency provided information that directly and indirectly benefited students. The literature related to passive student voice and agency tended to be indirect, while active student voice and agency and activating students’ inner voice and agency tended to provide tangible and observable student benefits. While the studies were responsive to different aspects of young adolescent development and included foci on students’ social/emotional development and identity, other areas were lacking—including culturally responsive teaching, international perspectives, and sense of self/peer perceptions.

Exploration of Student Experiences and Perceptions of Self and Peer: Implications for Tailoring Supports.

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) students have reported learning new behaviors, enhanced self-awareness, and personal and professional growth during their first year of DPT school. The purpose of this study was to explore in greater depth, through semistructured interviews, the student perceptions of self-identity and social identity. Seventeen early second-year DPT students from 3 universities. This investigation is an extension of a larger multisite study. Qualitative interviews were employed to enable the use of a constructivist lens to explore the importance of personal context in participants' experiences during the first year of DPT school. Students across programs shared similar characteristics and experiences. Three themes emerged: DPT students share common perceptions of themselves and classmates; sociocultural experiences shaped their actions and perceptions of self; and students recognized the need to change to be successful. The voices of the older second-career students and racially minoritized students were uniquely different from other participants. Doctor of Physical Therapy student experiences are similar across programs except for older students and racially minoritized students. Early professional identity formation was noted as well. A richer understanding of the personal characteristics, influential sociocultural factors, and student perceptions of self and classmates could enable educators to customize supports and educational strategies to help students understand the role their past and present experiences play in shaping their professional identities.

The Role of Digital Platforms in Studying the Holy Qur’an: A Case Study based on the Voices of Students from Diverse Cultures at the Prophet’s Mosque

The Role of Digital Platforms in Studying the Holy Qur’an: A Case Study based on the Voices of Students from Diverse Cultures at the Prophet’s Mosque

Creating a School Leadership Culturally Responsive Special Education Climate Through the Inclusion of Student Voice in Time of Transitions

We center the voice of Dwyan Moore, a Black 12-year-old boy, during his transition of being diagnosed with a learning dis/Ability. We do so to grapple with the problem of disproportionate representation in special education along race and dis/Ability, with particular attention to educational leadership. Disproportionate representation is a reminder of the legacies of slavery and eugenics in United States public schools. We must address this enduring inequity. How we think, feel, and discuss such issues has systemic educational and equity implications for Black, Indigenous, and Youth of Color with dis/Abilities such as Dwyan. We end by promoting critical reflection and activities among educational school leaders on how student voices and agency can be included in dis/Ability transition planning and programming.

Using authentic student personas to inform academic policy review with the lived experience of students: a case study from Nottingham Trent University

ABSTRACT This case study from Nottingham Trent University describes how an intra-departmental collaborative team used the lived experience of students to inform academic policy review. Drawing on data from Student 2025, a longitudinal study exploring the complexity of student experiences and identities, the team created authentic student personas called Student Voice Profiles and supported colleagues to use them in a pilot workshop to consider academic policy and policy changes. Findings were mixed: the pilot project highlighted areas for further development, including improvements to resources; it also generated considerable interest in the potential application of student personas to a range of teaching and learning enhancements, and demonstrated the value of cross-team collaborative working.

A new approach to pupil agency: A collaborative evaluation study

AbstractThis article explores the concept of student agency within the Thrive Co‐operative Learning Trust. It details the Trust's journey in developing student voice and influence, using the Lundy Model of Child Participation as a framework. This article highlights the importance of authentic pupil agency and showcases successful initiatives undertaken by the Trust.

Paradoxical perceptions: minoritized high school students’ stereotypical and expansive views of science and scientists at an urban, inclusive STEM-focused high school (ISHS)

Existing research on inclusive STEM-focused high schools (ISHSs) has focused on the design and implementation of ISHSs at the school-level, along with the positive effects of ISHSs on STEM course taking, college majoring, and STEM career orientations. Missing from the literature are studies that foreground the perspectives and voices of students of color and their perceptions of science and scientists from asset-based, critical perspectives. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative case study is to document the perceptions of science and scientists among racially, ethnically, and linguistically minoritized ninth graders at an urban, inclusive STEM-focused high school in a mid-sized, northeastern city in the United States, along with the contexts, sources, and associated experiences informing these perceptions. Iterative cycles of inductive and deductive coding and domain analysis, informed by theoretical perspectives on ecological systems and Discourses, revealed paradoxical perceptions. Students viewed science as a body of knowledge, testing and experimenting, a life-enhancing discovery, building on background information, and connected with other disciplines and everywhere. Students’ perceptions of scientists were both stereotypical and expansive, including that scientists are smart and serious; use science equipment and gear in traditional lab contexts; and are creative, curious, and open-minded. While students primarily identified deceased White males as scientists, three girls of color mentioned counter-stereotypical women and people of color when they thought of science. Students noted that science field trips and after school programs, as well as science in the media and school, informed their perceptions. These findings suggest that despite reform efforts such as Science for All, very little has changed regarding conceptions of science and scientists. What is more, these findings are troubling when minoritized students at an ISHS continue to replicate status quo perceptions of science and scientists. This study has implications for practice, research, and policy related to building on and extending these views in more critically conscious and equity-oriented ways.

Fear, hesitation, and resistance: Georgia educators’ responses to divisive concepts legislation

Currently, attacks on CRT and neoliberal legislation work to undermine public education and democracy in the United States. Divisive concepts legislation restricts what teachers say and do, acting as a counterwave to implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. In this article, a collective of educators with diverse identities working in varied contexts engage in collaborative reflection on the impact of HB 1084 (a censorship policy in Georgia), on their educational practices. We generated vignettes and coded them for the degree to which we reacted with fear, hesitation, and/or resistance. Our responses existed within this set of reactions and were influenced by our identities, constraints/affordances of our contexts, and experiences. Our vignettes expose how the legislation subjected us to a surveillance state that sometimes produced fear and hesitation, especially for those in positions related to preservice teaching. However, resistance was also present in response to the legislation in almost every vignette. Implications emerging from this study include the importance of educators engaging student voices as a form of backup and the necessity of coalition building for critical teaching. Findings suggest policies like HB 1084 undermine culturally relevant, antiracist, justice-centered teaching and are fundamentally regressive to improving the public school system.