1. bringing them together around a common inquiry
2. providing a structure to help them identify that inquiry
3. providing a structure for sustainable collaboration around that inquiry
4. grounding their conversations in "data" (student work, classroom video, surveys, observations, student interviews, etc)
5. giving them ownership over molding the process to suit their needs
To that end, I created two documents (both attached) to help them with this.
The first document, "Developing an Inquiry," is meant to be used in the first meeting. It provides the structure to help them reflect on their practice through research-supported "best practices" and identify a common inquiry. Further, it encourages them to establish some early thoughts about that inquiry and identify some initial data to collect.
The second document, "Maintaining and Inquiry," is meant to be used as an "agenda" for every meeting thereafter. It encourages them to always be collecting data around their inquiry and provides a meeting structure for analyzing that data through the lens of their shared inquiry. Further, it allows space for them to continue to revisit both the topic of their inquiry and the data collection process itself, making room for shifting and growing thinking to guide their actions and mold their research.
Please feel free to use both in any way that you might find meaningful! And...
A big thanks to both Brian Lawler (@blaw0013) and Carlee Hollenbeck (@MissHollerback) for their feedback and suggestions!!
developing_an_inquiry.pdf |
managing_an_inquiry.pdf |