Action Research

This is what all PD should be like!

This is the comment I was given following our meeting/roundtable/workshop on Monday. I was gratified by all the positive comments, thank you’s and affirmations by the teachers.  A couple said, “our consultant rocks!” and one gave me a hug.  This is also the nature of this group of teachers. They are boisterous, emotional, open, opinionated, intelligent and appreciative professionals. People were happy with the day and left feeling good about the work we are doing and the support being given. This made me happy.

As I cleaned up the room and put away books I started to realize just how little of my original agenda was covered. I estimated we approached about 1/3 of what I hoped or imagined. Granted, I knew I was being optimistic with the agenda (I always have too much in the fear of running out of material), but we spent a good deal of time talking about the nature of art, what constitutes art and the value of process.  The discussion was intense at times and went quite deep as we analyzed where some perceptions come from and influences on attitude. It was quite enlightening.  Middle class values and work ethic in opposition to elitism was raised on more than one occasion. Teachers seemed to be thoroughly engaged in the debate and keen to offer opinion or to challenge assumptions.  What fun! How little we get opportunity to do this in our daily life!

Going into this day I questioned my power and authority and wanted to be aware of agenda driven control over the group. I can see by the outcome that it was not an issue.  Were we too off track? Difficult to know, but I’ll try to find out from the teachers.

Planning: They have been asked to contribute to a Voice Thread as a reflection tool on our process. We didn’t have time in the day and so they are doing it on their own. I have a feeling I may have to gently push this along – its easy to get busy with everything back in the classroom, I certainly understand why it wouldn’t be a priority. I hope to visit each one individually and see if I can help them by covering classes perhaps.

We also agreed to the concept of teacher as researcher and building our “culture of evidence” together. They were given cameras and asked to try to document the process with students, write about the thinking and to post it online on the Ning.  Already, several of them have personalized their pages and have started posting.  One teacher has begun a discussion thread about the nature of art vs technical skill.  I am excited by the prospect of getting our discussions underway through this medium.

Next step: collect Voice Thread reflection, gather feedback on our day, book personal visits with teachers and encourage Ning discussion.  My three actions are complete, now I need to finish gathering the data I need.

Whew! That feels good to take a moment and recognize where I am at.

Action Research: Action 1

Yesterday the Studio Thinking committee met for the first time.

After months of planning, discussing, writing and reading the moment of truth arrived.  I had carefully prepared for the meeting by creating an agenda that would have:

structure

organization

meaningful information

time for reflection, interaction and discovery

flexibility for teacher input and direction

It was much like preparing for an Arts lesson! And like the classroom, I could not anticipate their reaction to the workshop and had to be ready to respond and revise on the spot.  Teaching requires us to be ready for anything, to read the group and to manage the climate.  I did not want to overwhelm them with information or influence them with my own beliefs.  My primary goal was to create a community and to help us find our common language and shared philosophy in Arts Education (regardless if it’s drama, dance, music or visual arts).

I was surprisingly tired after the day was done, but also very pleased with the outcome.  The group expressed appreciation for the chance to talk, to share ideas and to not feel so isolated.  We are looking forward to our next meeting when we work with the artists and with creating a collaboration project. I introduced the research on Arts Education and critical and creative thinking, we deconstructed the Studio Thinking habits of mind and they agreed to continue with the Action Research plan.  They have also agreed to join the Arts Ed 2.0 Ning so that we might use it to share our work with one another.

Data Collection 1:

The teachers completed a survey meant to create a picture of how they view themselves (as artist/teacher), their thinking about class environment and perceptions of critical and creative thinking skills.

We discussed Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy and compared it to the eight Studio Thinking Habits of Mind. This became a useful tool for talking about our practice and the levels of thinking we call upon regularly in our work.

Next Steps:

a) On Oct. 2 we will join 25 teachers from the division to work with three artists for a day. The workshop will focus on Responding to Art and will be based around an exhibition called “Mixed Messages: Fragmented Stories”.  We will be working as artists: thinking, expressing, exploring, and creating together. How does it feel to be the participant instead of the deliverer of the experience?  What was my process? How does this work influence me in the classroom?

b) I will visit with three of the six teachers and document (video) a session with students. We will watch the video together and talk about their practice – thinking skills, studio habits, process and student learning.  The conversation will focus on how the teachers perceives what happened with what they see in the document. The conversation will allow for reflection about their practice and may lead them to an action research question of their own.

c) The teachers will complete a final survey in November when we meet to plan our collaboration.  Though this will be the final step of the data to be collected, the teachers will continue on the committee for the remainder of the year.