Shaping the Future of Literary Engagement: Shared Reading Workshop at the University of Basel
On May 21st and 22nd, 2025, the University of Basel in Switzerland hosted the “Shared Reading Workshop” – a striking event for literary scholars. Among the international attendees was Dr. Giulia Scapin, a postdoctoral researcher at CSAReps, who joined fellow experts to explore the evolving research and practice of shared reading.
Shared reading is considered an interactive literary activity where a facilitator reads a text out loud to a group and then, facilitates participants to discuss and reflect on it together (Dewey, 2021)
The two-day event was organized by the dedicated team of the SHARD (Shared Reading in the Age of Digitalization) project – specifically Antonia Vogler and Tina Ternes. Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation’s Eccellenza scheme, the SHARD project seeks to understand how the practice of reading and discussing literature together adapts to and thrives within our increasingly digital world.
Day 1: Diverse Frameworks and Collaborative Brainstorming
The first day of the workshop blended insightful presentations with collaborative working groups, offering a diverse view of current shared reading initiatives across Europe.
The morning session featured three presentations that highlighted the diverse applications and methodologies within the field:
1. Antonia Vogler and Tina Ternes (University of Basel): “Coding as an Entry Point into Shared Reading Data: From Qualitative to Computational.” The organizers opened the floor by demonstrating how researchers can bridge the gap between traditional qualitative analysis and modern computational tools to decode complex participant data in shared reading research.
2. Laurie Bastemeijer: “Studying Shared Reading in a Vocational Educational Context in the Netherlands.” This presentation offered a practical look at how shared reading can be utilized as a powerful tool within the vocational training environment in the Netherlands.
3. Jane Lugea: “Tensions between Shared Reading as an Arts-Based Activity and Shared Reading in Research.” Dr Lugea addressed a crucial dilemma: How to maintain the organic and artistic feel of a shared reading session while simultaneously subjecting it as a scientific research.
In the afternoon, the workshop shifted from a lecture format to dynamic groups. Participants were divided into groups to tackle five of some of the core challenges currently facing the shared reading research community:
1. Methodological Best Practices: Examining which research methodologies show the most authentic results across different audiences.
2. Ethics and Open Science: Navigating the balance between protecting participant privacy, especially when discussions touch on sensitive or personal topics – and the academic necessity to provide open and accessible data for future research.
3. Shared Reading Across Diverse Contexts: Analyzing how shared reading dynamics shift when implemented in medical facilities, educational institutions, or when tailored specifically for children, adults, or the elderly.
4. Community Outreach: Brainstorming innovative tools and strategies to introduce new participants to shared reading and foster a love for literature.
5. Text Selection Curations: Debating the considerations behind text selection. Specifically, on why certain narratives resonate deeply with specific audiences and how to choose the right text for the right group of people.
Day 2: Looking Ahead and Building a Global Network
If the first day was about mapping out the current landscape, the second day focused on the future. The attendees spent the day diving deeper into the insights gathered from the previous afternoon’s breakout sessions.
Rather than letting the discussions remain theoretical, the participants focused on actionable next steps. The final sessions were dedicated to laying the groundwork for an international network of researchers and practitioners. By aligning their goals, the participants aim to support ongoing, robust, and ethical research, ensuring that shared reading continues to validate its impact as both a profound social practice and a vital field of academic study.
For Dr. Giulia Scapin and CSAReps, the workshop provided invaluable insights and vital networking opportunities, especially regarding interdisciplinary collaboration in the field of literary engagement research. Through this workshop, shared reading is noted as a powerful practice and can be integrated for a diverse group of people – opening discussion on how it could be impactful relating to CSA education and support for the people involved.
Reference:
Dewey, J. (2021). Shared reading. In Research Starters: Education. EBSCO Research Starters
Written by Olivia Susilo | Research Assistant