Pedagogical potential of narrative and life history research in education

Abstract

This paper aims to explore and reflect on the pedagogical potential of the narrative and biographical research methodology in education to illuminate and address issues related with immigration, inclusion and social justice. Our research practice is an approach to understanding the Other, thus our paper reports on a two research projects: 1) the Life History of Shila, young Moroccan boy who, whilst still under-age, was arrested in Spain for drug trafficking. Before completing his two-year rehabilitation process, he began working in a care home for protected minors, initially as a monitor and then as an “educator. 2) the Life History of Mei Ling, a young Spanish girl from a Chinese background and the way in which she interpreted and experienced her the lived experiences, problems and challenges in various social, local and transnational contexts: school, family, community and society in general.