Description of Project
Politicians, managers and administrators frequently talk of "transformation," especially in countries like South Africa, which seek to move away from a painful past of oppression, autocracy, dehumanisation, exploitation, and injustice to a more just and democratic future for its people. "Qualitative transformation" is an important research theme at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (South Africa) and is part of the governmental and institutional Vision 2020 scheme. What does “qualitative transformation” mean? How can we evaluate it? We need to explore “qualitative transformation” from different perspectives, research disciplines, and contexts.
This book will present international research on “qualitative transformation” from different perspectives, disciplines, and contexts. Each contributor will explain and clarify the meaning of “qualitative transformation" in relation to their own research and experiences. They will be critically engaging with relevant theories, practices, and methodologies, and supporting their ideas with evidence and critical reflections.
This will be of value for readers who are interested in defining, debating and understanding “qualitative transformation” and to carry out their own research and practice in evaluating and bringing about qualitative transformation. Each contribution will display situations, practices and lives in different countries and contexts and the values and commitments of different practitioners struggling to make a difference to humanity, their community and country, and the future of the world.
It is hoped this this will assist policy makers, politicians, managers and administrators to define and understand the words “qualitative transformation."
This is a call for papers for a volume on the meanings of qualitative transformation and how to evaluate it.
The initial title and subtitle are
"Qualitative Transformation: Interdisciplinary Research and Reflections on It Meaning and Evaluation
Brief description of the aim of the book
In this book, different authors from different disciplines and countries explore the meaning of “qualitative transformation.” Each author explains and evaluates “qualitative transformation” in terms of their own area of research and presents their own theories, evidence-based analysis, literature reviews, and critical engagement.
Call for Papers
Qualitative Transformation: A collected perspectives (2015)
The newly established Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, South Africa, and Trébol Press, Los Angeles, seek to publish a collection of peer reviewed papers on the timely theme of “qualitative transformation”.
We welcome contributions from around the world and across disciplines and transdisciplinarily that enquire into or describe projects in evaluating qualitative transformation and looking into the meanings and implications of qualitative transformation, and how to summon it from any perspective, context, area of research, and methodology.
Required length: 5000 to 12000 words, in APA style (advice and sources to be received upon request from the editor)
Deadline for a 250-400 words abstract, March 31, 2015
Deadline for submission July, 1, 2015
Edited by Alon Serper (Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Send abstracts or enquiries to Alon Serper at Alon.Serper@nmmu.ac.za
To be published by Trébol Press
Sponsored by the Earth Stewardship Science Research Institute, chaired by Prof. Maarten de Wit.
I spent July here in this site discussing values as standards of judgement and which values to follow
http://connect.nmmu.ac.za/Blogs/Developing,-Problematizing-and-Testing-An-Applied/July-2014/summary-of-the-values-question
http://connect.nmmu.ac.za/Blogs/Developing,-Problematizing-and-Testing-An-Applied/July-2014/Applied-dialectical-Method-as-value-laden
http://connect.nmmu.ac.za/Blogs/Developing,-Problematizing-and-Testing-An-Applied/July-2014/More-reflections-on-values
http://connect.nmmu.ac.za/Blogs/Developing,-Problematizing-and-Testing-An-Applied/July-2014?page=3
This week,
The Thailand Junta regime used Hitler as the desired values of obedience to authority, hard work, loyalty to one's country, king and religion, and what it means to be a good and moral person in a propaganda film.
http://www.ibtimes.com/thailand-school-propaganda-film-israeli-embassy-bangkok-condemns-hitler-video-1747118
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/188487
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1143055/Thai-propaganda-film-Hitlers-image-removed-internet.html
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/news/video-1143055/Thai-propaganda-film-Hitlers-image-removed-internet.html
Of course, Hitler is usually considered to be an example of destruction, evil and worst possible features of what human beings can be and do - the most UNDESIRED feature of a regime, leadership and humanity.
The idea that the Hitlerism can be used as desired values shocks many beyond words. Hitler is considered an absolute universal example of sheer evil and how not to be. Yet the Thai regime is using it as the exactly opposite, how one ought to be, in an educational film for children on how to good human beings and Thai citizens.
How is it possible?
What does this mean? That nothing is absolute or universal? Everything is relative and subject to geography? How would the Asian governments, in general, and the Thai, in particular, react if the Israeli government portrays the atrocities committed by the Japanese regime and military in Asia in the 20th century in its educational films?
How is that possible?
Does
I really believe in the poiesis of creating something new from the existing using critical evaluation, dialogue and testing
A teacher placed herself in the place of her students. Here are her findings.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/10/24/teacher-spends-two-days-as-a-student-and-is-shocked-at-what-she-learned/
I do greater participation as my method. Still, critical reflection and placing oneself in the shoes/place of others, the students, is always good.