"PLAYING WITH WORDS: AN ACCOUNT FOR PRACTICE" Journal Cover

Abstract:

This Account of Practice reflects on [Who is the Imposter?], a game-based action learning activity developed from the Exercise in Style workshop for design research writing. Inspired by Raymond Queneau’s Exercises in Style, the activity borrows the idea of variation, reframing and playful constraint to help learners rethink academic language. Drawing on action learning, communities of practice, feedback theory, engaged pedagogy and design as open-ended inquiry, the paper examines how a simple word game can move students beyond memorising terminology as isolated vocabulary. In the activity, participants compare closely related research terms, describe their meanings, identify conceptual differences, vote on the “imposter” term and reflect on their reasoning. The paper argues that this process transforms words into situated, relational and strategic tools for writing.

Author:

Lemon Xueli Tang1[0009-0002-3343-5716],

Ziqi Xu2[0009-0007-0012-5849]