The CART Grant cohort met last night from 4:00-7:00pm at Challenge Early College High School. Present were Karen, Linda, Debbie, Matthew, Terri, Ron, Michaelann, Sonia, Lauren, Chong-Hao, Carolyn, Donna, and Tim. Two of the ten groups did not have a representative present at the meeting.

The purpose of the meeting was to build our network of fellow researchers, get support for any challenges we might be facing in our research, and deepen our understanding of how to gather data and generate evidence.

We began with the “Affinity Groups” icebreaker and then jig-sawed Chapter 13, “Monitoring Practice and Looking for Data,” in Action Research by Jean McNiff and Jack Whitehead (2006). Click on the thumbnails to see some of the learning from the chapter.

Since the snacks were late getting delivered, we took some time to simply go around and share what our initial questions are and what sorts of data we’ve already collected. Examples included chalk talk posters, summaries of peer observations, samples of student work, parent comments, written reflections, archives of student case files, email correspondence, personal journals, and many others.

We refreshed ourselves with yummy sandwiches, wraps, fruit, cookies, and drinks from Jason’s Deli and then engaged in a new protocol dubbed “The Heart of the Matter.” Each group displayed an artifact that they brought with them and wrote a brief description of the artifact. We then quietly examined each other’s artifacts and wrote down clarifying questions. Each group responded orally to the clarifying questions, and then we again quietly walked through the room to re-examine the artifacts and add probing questions and connections.

Tim debriefed the process and I wish I had audiotaped the debrief.

We asked that people email any questions that they have about the grant and promised that answers would be posted on line where everybody could refer to them.

Reflections are in the extended entry.