Embodied Knowledge in Practice: Participatory Approaches to Learning, Research, and Collective Meaning-Making

Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Advanced Research in Education, Teaching and Learning

Year: 2026

[PDF]

Embodied Knowledge in Practice: Participatory Approaches to Learning, Research, and Collective Meaning-Making

Prof. Eleni Tsompanaki

ABSTRACT:

This presentation explores the body as a generative site of knowledge in educational and research contexts, foregrounding embodied, participatory, and collaborative approaches to teaching and inquiry. Drawing on practice-based research from dance, community arts, and arts-informed pedagogy, the session demonstrates how learning emerges through movement, aesthesis, dialogue, and collective reflection.
While submitted as an oral presentation, the session is highly interactive: participants engage in guided embodied activities, small-group collaboration, and reflective dialogue. The process is co-constructed, with participants’ voices, experiences, and educational priorities shaping the flow and content. Emphasis is placed on shared decision-making, agency, and inclusive pedagogical practices, modeling learning environments that challenge hierarchical teacher–learner roles.
The presentation illustrates practical strategies for integrating embodied and arts-based methods into classrooms, community programs, and qualitative research. It highlights ethical considerations and ways to foster epistemic plurality, engagement, and reflection in diverse educational contexts.
This session is suitable for educators, researchers, artists, and cultural practitioners interested in participatory inquiry, innovative pedagogy, and expanded understandings of knowledge in education. No prior experience in dance or movement is required; activities are accessible, adaptable, and designed to amplify participants’ voice and co-created learning.

Keywords: Embodied Knowledge, Participatory Learning, Arts-Informed Pedagogy, Inclusive Education, Community Dance