Emergent Thinkers™

The book “Phenomenology in Action in Researching on Networked Learning” (Springer) is finally here, in physical form, in my hand!

After years of wonderful collaboration and learning across countries, the product of personal and collective efforts has materialised into something to physically hold and cherish. – I recount my own milestones on my phenomenological and doctoral journey as well as hold in hand with pride, the combined insights, research, and passion of an incredible network of scholars and thinkers. The culmination of numerous workshops and writing sessions as well as joint in-person meetings in various countries over the years. Conversations that have kept me in a state of wonder.

The hanfod.NL Initiative and Community

This book’s journey aligns closely with hanfod.NL, a project Dr. Mike Johnson from Cardiff University and I launched to facilitate phenomenological networks and stimulate collaboration at and between the International Networked Learning Conference Consortium events. It stands as a testament to the relationships and connections formed and nourished within and bridging the phenomenological and Networked Learning communities.

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

I want to express my deepest gratitude to the NL community (& NL Consortium)- the mentorship, friendship, scholarship, personal exchanges, and support have been momentous. This energy has further extended into some of our newer collaborations with those who share a passion for phenomenology. I cannot write this without calling out the beyond words incredible support of the magnificent Professor Cathy Adams and the gifted Professor Nina Bonderup Dohn, who have wrapped their arms around Mike and me, encouraging our growth in this field.

A Personal and Academic Journey

This work is therefore, in some way seeded to my own doctoral student days, reminding me of my journey to understanding, rather than authoritative reading or conceptual analysis – a path which led me to the work of Max Van Manen’s ‘Phenomenology of Practice’, and which made a serendipitous link to my long term appreciation of the work of Austrian poet, Rainer Maria Rilke. Rilke, had been a source of writing style and ‘meaning’ inspiration before I even knew ‘phenomenology’ was a thing!

Rilke’s words resonate deeply with the phenomenological approach:

“It has always, here and there, been in this kind of in-seeing, in the indescribably swift, deep, timeless moments of this divine seeing into the heart of things.”

(Rainer Maria Rilke, 1987)

This “in-seeing” that Rilke describes so beautifully captures the essence of what we’ve strived for in our research – a deep, meaningful understanding of networked learning experiences.

Contributors and Thanks

To everyone who has been part of this journey – my fellow editors and contributors – a Welsh-Canadian-Danish team, Mike, Cathy, and Nina, and all the wonderful contributors:

• Dr. Lucy Osler (Cardiff University)
• Associate Professor Kyungmee Lee (Seoul National University)
• Associate Professor Jean du Toit (North-West University)
• Associate Professor Gregory Swer (University of KwaZulu-Natal)
• Dr. Joni Turville (Alberta Teachers’ Association)
• Sean Groten and Yin (Iris) Yin (University of Alberta)
• Professor Norm Friesen (Boise State University)
• Assistant Professor Greta Goetz (Belgrade University)

And to the entire networked learning community – thank you. This moment of joy belongs to all of us! Holding this book feels like holding a piece of our collective heart. It’s a testament to the power of networked learning and collaborative research.

I can’t wait to share more about its contents and to see how it contributes to understanding of learning in connected environments.

#NetworkedLearning #Phenomenology #AcademicPublishing #ResearchMilestone

Felicity

https://link.springer.com/book/9783031627798#overview

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