The river of life: possibilities and tensions of a visual elicitation method

This talk explores how narrative inquiry and river of life elicitation were used to research the professional identities of 17 South Asian heritage primary teachers in London schools. Combining life history interviews with participant-drawn rivers, the study invited teachers to map the people, places and moments that shaped their routes into teaching. The talk considers what the visual method made possible, including stories that might not have emerged through interviews alone, and reflects on the ethical tensions of inviting sensitive disclosure. It closes with practical reflections for researchers considering creative and participatory methods in their own work.

Bio:
Dr Sakina Jafri is a researcher at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, where she also supervises undergraduate and MPhil students. She is a member of the Cambridge Network for Disability and Education Research (CaNDER) and the Curriculum, Pedagogy and Professional Learning (CPPL) group. Drawing on over a decade of primary teaching in Pakistan, London, New York and California, she brings a practitioner lens to her research, which explores the lived experiences and identities of South Asian heritage teachers in London primary schools. Her work is driven by a commitment to social justice, inclusive education, teacher education and amplifying global majority voices.

Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/3766498865194292?p=TVhYnl2JCdsMXpXlE7