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Washington State University
College of Education

Richard Sawyer

Sawyer_photo

Richard Sawyer

Professor
department of teaching and learning
vancouver campus
VUB 332
14202 NE Salmon Creek Avenue
vancouver, WA  98686

360-546-9658
rsawyer@wsu.edu

Curriculum Vitae

Research interests

Richard Sawyer examines how individuals begin to “think in a new key.” He has three foci dedicated to scholarship on unfreezing and changing thinking and action in relation to rapid and ongoing changes in the world. First, he recently developed a methodology, now in use internationally, called duoethnography. Duoethnography provides individuals with a way to begin to examine underlying foundations of one’s beliefs and assumptions, as a way to understand the constructed nature of the formation of beliefs and their relationship to identity and then action. He has co-written approximately five books on this topic, written numerous book chapters, and given a large number of presentations on this topic. In 2015 he received the outstanding book award for a new qualitative methodology from Division D. of the American Educational Research Association.

In addition, and related to his work in duoethnography, Richard studies how educators begin to change their thinking and their teaching in relation to diversity. He has published articles on perceptions (and ways to unfreeze perceptions) of educators in the United States on Palestinians living in refugee camps and individuals resisting NAFTA in Mexico.

Third, Dr. Sawyer examines how educators change their perceptions and develop new visions for education. He has recently begun publishing on how teachers develop democratic and collaborative visions for public education.

In his work, he intertwines research with practice, ideally promoting reflexivity.

 

Teaching/professional interests

Dr. Sawyer chairs the Masters in Teaching Program in Secondary Certification on the Vancouver campus, is chair of the new Ed.D. Program for the Department of Teaching and Learning college-wide, and is co-editor of the journal of the Northwest Association of Teacher Educators, Northwest Passage: Journal of Educational Practice.

Recent accomplishments

 

Publications in 2016

Sawyer R., M. Neel, M. Coulter. 2016. At the Crossroads of Clinical Practice and Teacher Leadership: A Changing Paradigm for Professional Practice. International Journal of Teacher Leadership.7(1):17-36.

Sawyer R., J. Norris. 2016. Interdisciplinary Reflective Practice through Duoethnography. n.p.: Palgrave Press.

Brown H., R. Sawyer. 2016. Forms of Practitioner Reflexivity: Critical Professional Conversations for Change in a New Age. n.p.: Palgrave Press.

Sawyer R., L. Dekker, M. Rasmor. In Search of an Artistic Curriculum Identity. 2016. In: R.D.Sawyer & J. Norris, editors. Dialogic Interdisciplinary Self-Study through the Practice of Duoethnography. : Palgrave Press. p 17-40.

Sawyer R. Dialogic reflection: An exploration of its embodied, imaginative, and reflexive dynamics. 2016. Forms of Practitioner Reflexivity. Critical, Conversational, and Arts-Based Approaches.

Sawyer R. Dialogic interdisciplinary self-study through the practice of Duoethnography. 2016. Interdisciplinary Reflective Practice through Duoethnography. : Palgrave Press. p 1-14.

Sawyer R. Desperately seeking self-reflexivity: A critique of a duoethnographyabout becoming a post-colonial teacher. 2016. Forms of Practitioner Reflexivity. Critical, Conversational, and Arts-Based Approaches. : Palgrave Press. p 117-134.

Sawyer R. The Anatomy of Dissent as Teachers Plan and Lead a Demonstration in Seattle: Intersections of Hope, Agency, and Collective Action. 2016. European Society for Research on the Education of Adults; March, 2016; Cantebury, England.

Sawyer R. New Directions in Qualitative Research: Duoethnography as a Contingent, Uncertain, and Dialogic Research Method. 2016. AERA Division D Annual Meeting. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting; April, 2016; Washington D.C..

Norris J., R. Sawyer. in press. Theorizing Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education and Research through Duoethnographic Pedagogy. n.p.: Palgrave Press.

Sawyer R., J. Norris, S. Weibe. Teaching Duoethnography in Graduate Curriculum Theory Courses. in press. Theorizing Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education and Research through Duoethnographic Pedagogy. : Palgrave Press.

Norris J., R. Sawyer. The efficacy of Duoethnography for teaching and learning: A return to its roots. in press. . : Palgrave Press. p 1-14.

Sawyer R. The anatomy of dissent as teachers plan and lead a demonstration in Seattle: Intersections of hope, agency, and collective action. in press. Alternatives to privatizing public education and curriculum. A festschrift in honor of Dale D. Johnson. : Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

Sawyer R. submitted. Tracing Dimensions of Aesthetic Currere: Critical Transactions between Person, Place, and Art. Journal of Currere.

Sawyer R., A. Benozzo. (In press). Cross-Atlantic Discourses in Celebrity Coming Out Stories: The Cases of Ricky Martin and Tiziano Ferro. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing.

Sawyer R. The Curriculum of Collective Action in Seattle: A March for Democracy. 2016. American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies; April, 2016; Washington, D.C..

Norris J., P. Sameshima, R. Sawyer. Duoethnography as a Pedagogic Research Methodology of Self Examination. 2016. Curriculum and Pedagogy Conference; October, 2016; Cleveland, Ohio.

Norris J., R. Sawyer. Duoethnographies within and about Higher Education. 2016. Curriculum and Pedagogy Conference; October, 2016; Cleveland, Ohio.

Sawyer R. The Anatomy of Resistance and Hope: Teachers Successfully Plan and Lead a Demonstration in Seattle against Neoliberal Education. 2016.

Sawyer R., J. Norris, H. Brown. Book Launch of Three Co-edited Books on Reflexivity and Duoethnography. 2016. Curriculum and Pedagogy Conference; October, 2016; Cleveland, Ohio.

Sawyer R. It’s Not Too Early to Start Thinking about Your Next Proposal. 2016. American Educational Research Association; April, 2016; Washington, D. C..

Sawyer R., J. Norris, H. Brown. Book Launch of Three Co-edited Books on Reflexivity and Duoethnography. 2016. Brock University Lecture Series; October, 2016; Brock University, Ontario, Canada.

 

Educational background

  • Ed.D. Curriculum and Teaching, Columbia University
  • M.A. Education, San Francisco State University
  • B.A. English Literature, University of Washington

Richard D. Sawyer Biography

Focusing on curriculum theory, Richard Sawyer examines how individuals begin to “think in a new key.” He has three foci dedicated to scholarship on unfreezing and changing thinking and action in relation to rapid and ongoing changes in the world. First, he recently developed a methodology, now in use internationally, called duoethnography. Duoethnography provides individuals with a way to begin to examine underlying foundations of one’s beliefs and assumptions, as a way to understand the constructed nature of the formation of beliefs and their relationship to identity and then action. He has co-written approximately five books on this topic, written numerous book chapters, and given a large number of presentations on this topic. In 2015 he received the outstanding book award for a new qualitative methodology from Division D. of the American Educational Research Association.

In addition, and related to his work in duoethnography, Richard studies how educators begin to change their thinking and their teaching in relation to diversity. He has published articles on perceptions (and ways to unfreeze perceptions) of educators in the United States on Palestinians living in refugee camps and individuals resisting NAFTA in Mexico.

Third, Dr. Sawyer examines how educators change their perceptions and develop new visions for education. He has recently begun publishing on how teachers develop democratic and collaborative visions for public education.

In his work, he intertwines research with practice, ideally promoting reflexivity.

Publications in 2016

Sawyer R., M. Neel, M. Coulter. 2016. At the Crossroads of Clinical Practice and Teacher Leadership: A Changing Paradigm for Professional Practice. International Journal of Teacher Leadership.7(1):17-36.

Sawyer R., J. Norris. 2016. Interdisciplinary Reflective Practice through Duoethnography. n.p.: Palgrave Press.

Brown H., R. Sawyer. 2016. Forms of Practitioner Reflexivity: Critical Professional Conversations for Change in a New Age. n.p.: Palgrave Press.

Sawyer R., L. Dekker, M. Rasmor. In Search of an Artistic Curriculum Identity. 2016. In: R.D.Sawyer & J. Norris, editors. Dialogic Interdisciplinary Self-Study through the Practice of Duoethnography. : Palgrave Press. p 17-40.

Sawyer R. Dialogic reflection: An exploration of its embodied, imaginative, and reflexive dynamics. 2016. Forms of Practitioner Reflexivity. Critical, Conversational, and Arts-Based Approaches.

Sawyer R. Dialogic interdisciplinary self-study through the practice of Duoethnography. 2016. Interdisciplinary Reflective Practice through Duoethnography. : Palgrave Press. p 1-14.

Sawyer R. Desperately seeking self-reflexivity: A critique of a duoethnographyabout becoming a post-colonial teacher. 2016. Forms of Practitioner Reflexivity. Critical, Conversational, and Arts-Based Approaches. : Palgrave Press. p 117-134.

Sawyer R. The Anatomy of Dissent as Teachers Plan and Lead a Demonstration in Seattle: Intersections of Hope, Agency, and Collective Action. 2016. European Society for Research on the Education of Adults; March, 2016; Cantebury, England.

Sawyer R. New Directions in Qualitative Research: Duoethnography as a Contingent, Uncertain, and Dialogic Research Method. 2016. AERA Division D Annual Meeting. American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting; April, 2016; Washington D.C..

Norris J., R. Sawyer. in press. Theorizing Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education and Research through Duoethnographic Pedagogy. n.p.: Palgrave Press.

Sawyer R., J. Norris, S. Weibe. Teaching Duoethnography in Graduate Curriculum Theory Courses. in press. Theorizing Curriculum Studies, Teacher Education and Research through Duoethnographic Pedagogy. : Palgrave Press.

Norris J., R. Sawyer. The efficacy of Duoethnography for teaching and learning: A return to its roots. in press. . : Palgrave Press. p 1-14.

Sawyer R. The anatomy of dissent as teachers plan and lead a demonstration in Seattle: Intersections of hope, agency, and collective action. in press. Alternatives to privatizing public education and curriculum. A festschrift in honor of Dale D. Johnson. : Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.

Sawyer R. submitted. Tracing Dimensions of Aesthetic Currere: Critical Transactions between Person, Place, and Art. Journal of Currere.

Sawyer R., A. Benozzo. (In press). Cross-Atlantic Discourses in Celebrity Coming Out Stories: The Cases of Ricky Martin and Tiziano Ferro. Journal of Curriculum Theorizing.

Sawyer R. The Curriculum of Collective Action in Seattle: A March for Democracy. 2016. American Association for the Advancement of Curriculum Studies; April, 2016; Washington, D.C..

Norris J., P. Sameshima, R. Sawyer. Duoethnography as a Pedagogic Research Methodology of Self Examination. 2016. Curriculum and Pedagogy Conference; October, 2016; Cleveland, Ohio.

Norris J., R. Sawyer. Duoethnographies within and about Higher Education. 2016. Curriculum and Pedagogy Conference; October, 2016; Cleveland, Ohio.

Sawyer R. The Anatomy of Resistance and Hope: Teachers Successfully Plan and Lead a Demonstration in Seattle against Neoliberal Education. 2016.

Sawyer R., J. Norris, H. Brown. Book Launch of Three Co-edited Books on Reflexivity and Duoethnography. 2016. Curriculum and Pedagogy Conference; October, 2016; Cleveland, Ohio.

Sawyer R. It’s Not Too Early to Start Thinking about Your Next Proposal. 2016. American Educational Research Association; April, 2016; Washington, D. C..

Sawyer R., J. Norris, H. Brown. Book Launch of Three Co-edited Books on Reflexivity and Duoethnography. 2016. Brock University Lecture Series; October, 2016; Brock University, Ontario, Canada.