Participatory Methods
Sound serves at the same time as a research and collaboration methodology, as well as a tool for dissemination and presentation.
Walter Gershon (2013) conducted research on science education in schools in the United States with Grade 5 children living in urban areas, many of them in poverty. He focused on the potential of song writing and recording to reduce gender disparities in science education. He composed with the children a piece that brought together different layers of sound, including rhythms, interactions between the students and with their teacher, and a hip-hop song sung by the children. The audio clip is available here.
Soundscape recording and composition is also possible with students from various backgrounds. One experiment in a context of partnership with a museum led to collaborative initiatives with the community (Boudreault-Fournier 2019). The students’ compositions can be listened to here
