Dr Karen Horsley

Professional biography

Karen is a Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood. Karen's first degree is in Early Childhood Studies which she completed at the University of East London. Karen was a Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at the University of East London before joining The Open University in January 2015. Karen has worked with children, parents and professionals in a variety of early years settings including local primary schools, nurseries, a women's refuge and child development centre. Karen has been awarded Early Years Professional Status (EYPS), and she is a Senior Fellow of The Higher Education Academy. 

Karen's Doctorate in Education explores young migrant children's ‘funds of knowledge’ through documentary photography. Her ongoing research with the Open University aligns with a committment to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Research. 

Research interests

Karen is interested in how documentary photography can facilitate young children's voices and partcipation in Early Childhood. 

Karen was awarded her Doctorate in Education:

'Exploring young migrant children's ‘funds of knowledge’ through documentary photography'

Horsley, K. (2022) Exploring Young Migrant Children's 'Funds of Knowledge' Through Documentary Photography. EdD thesis. The Open University. DOI: https://doi.org/10.21954/ou.ro.0001428d

In this qualitative participatory case study, the ‘funds of knowledge’ (González et al., 2005) of three young children, whose families have migrated to the UK, are foregrounded, and rendered visible, through documentary photography. The children’s intuitive and wise photography, at home and in a nursery, expresses the richness of their aesthetic authorial voices, with others, as pedagogical resources. At a time of unpreceded global migration, this study interweaves theoretical and practical insights from early childhood, documentary photography, visual sociology, literature and art, to offer a new framework for layered listening. The framework celebrates diversity with innovative and creative possibilities for re-imagined ECEC contexts, and beyond, as human spaces and channels for ongoing, culturally responsive conversation, theory and practice.

Karen's research has also explored the use of documentary photography to 'slow down' with practitioners and children:

Horsley, K. (2021) Slowing Down: Documentary Photography in Early Childhood. International Journal of Early Years Education. vol. 29, no.4, pp.438-454 [Online]. DOI: 10.1080/09669760.2020.1850430

Karen's research interests are: Young children's diverse voices and participation; visual research methods; participatory and creative culturally responsive approaches; young migrant, refugee and asylum-seeking children's and families' funds of knowledge; visual stories, slow pedagogies; digital pedagogies; developing international partnerships with collective dialogues that are open to new ways of seeing and knowing. 

Teaching interests

Karen's teaching interests and experiences span a wide variety of Early Childhood / Early Years modules with students on the Extended degree at the University of East London (UEL) and Undergraduates at UEL and The Open University.

The Open University

• E109 Exploring Perspectives on Young Children's Lives and Learning (Module Chair in presentation and production of E109 remake)
• E110 Young Children's Play and Creativity
• E229 Listening to Young Children Living and Learning: Critical Reflections
• E105 Professional Practice in the Early Years (Module Chair)
• E100 The Early Years: Developing Practice

UEL

• ED0007 Key Concepts in Early Childhood (Extended degree)
• ED0003 Becoming an Early Childhood Undergraduate (Extended degree)
• ED1009 Introduction to Early Childhood Studies
• ED1034 Developing Learning in Early Childhood
• ED1000 Critical Reading and Writing
• ED2037 International Placement in International Settings
• ED3000 Research Project supervisor
• ED6014 Children, Culture, Globalisation

Karen holds a Post Graduate Certificate in Learning and Teaching in Higher Education (PGTLHE).