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Meeting Evaluations
from the 1999-2000 Virginia Adult Education Research Network
At the conclusion of each practitioner research meeting,
participants responded to two questions:
1.In general, what worked at this retreat? And 2.What are
your suggestions for planning the next research retreat? The practitioner
researchers’ comments are as follows:
Meeting One Evaluations
Meeting Two Evaluations
Meeting Three Evaluations
Virginia Adult Education Research Network
Meeting One, December 1-2, 1999
Participant
Evaluation Comments
1. In general, what
worked at this retreat?
Focusing on our individual questions and
concerns.
The flexibility, going with the teachable
moments really seemed to be a plus for this group. Responding to our evolving
voiced needs. The opportunity to get specific feedback from colleagues was
excellent. It provided material to work within and beyond the retreat. Group
demonstrations to illustrate activities were very helpful. The party idea and
gallery experience were both great!
Nurturing atmosphere established by facilitators. Respect
for differing points of view.
Working out the problem was good but
uncomfortable (as I guess it has to be.)
Modeling behavior with the large group
before splitting us up into small groups.
I really enjoyed the small group activities.
I found them less intimidating.
Two activities stand out in my mind. The
first was when groups of 3-4 read and critiqued the pre-retreat assignments.
The activities generated lots of reflection and recycling of problem points.
More importantly the task assigned to us, such as under-lining, or writing, “I
wonder” next to certain phrases, helped to frame the dialogue within the group.
The second activity was when we examined the assumptions behind the [problem]
statements developed the night before, stimulated more dialog on the same
points. As I look at these activities, I think they worked as a framed activity
that allowed for certain roles and language to take place. Further, the
activities encourage modes of reflection in the group that will be necessary for
reflecting independently.
All the exercises and discussions opened my
mind up about research – more than I have learned in theoretical classes.
Looking forward to the next retreat.
The reading assignment (Brookfield) was
really helpful to me. Also working in small groups (but not the same groups
every time) was very beneficial. Modeled task first with the whole group was
helpful.
The structure of the first retreat worked
well. The times of the meetings were good. The main meeting room was adequate –
a little cramped at times.
2. What are your suggestions for planning
the next practitioner research retreat?
Work on the heat – too hot! Incorporate more
group critiques.
When we are in small groups I would like
more feedback from you [the facilitators] as well as our group’s participants.
Of necessity a lot of information is presented and there is almost brain
overload. Maybe a few more opportunities to debrief.
Needed more help than I got. More time
focusing on individual questions and concerns. More individual time with the
facilitators.
Allow time for some individual reflection,
even writing, so that we can capture some of the many things running through our
minds during the retreat.
Allow a little more personal writing
reflection – even if only for 5 minutes (short sessions in between).
Strong points I believe should be continued
are: Lots of demonstration and emphasis on comprehending key activities and
providing opportunities for reflection and dialogue with our peers.
Bring examples of research problems and
their research questions.
Please stress again for us to recognize that
our group critical reflection sessions are not meant to put anyone on the
defensive. In one of our groups, someone got very defensive and it was awkward
to “walk back down” from this. Criticism can be a hard, hard thing – even in
this kind fun-loving group.
Virginia Adult Education Research Network
Meeting Two, January
5-7, 2000
Participant Evaluation Comments
1. In general, what worked at this
retreat?
I liked leaving with a research question and
a data collection strategy. The ground rules were good. The half group and small
group activities were useful. The sense of community is building. This facility
is much better and more useful than the first.
The group sizes were better this time. I
liked doing [preparing for] the presentations in groups.
The observation assignment we did at the
shopping mall. Interesting ideas from the others. Agenda of activities.
Camaraderie.
Presentations by peers and preparation for
presentations. The accommodations. Feedback process. Feeling comfortable and
excited about the process and my own project.
One activity comes to mind: the
brainstorming sessions in which groups generated data collecting methods. It
gave all involved a chance to revise the problems they wanted to work on, and
re-examine those problems through various perspectives. I think it’s this
process of rendering the private public and dialoguing through different voices
that allows the work to move forward. It reminds me of the session on
assumptions from the last retreat…a good dialectic.
The “half” cut groups – nice size. I felt
like I accomplished a lot in this retreat, even though we didn’t get as much
time for individual work as originally scheduled. Not a problem. I really liked
the jigsaw activity. Covered a lot of material in creative and effective ways.
Especially the split groups, to one half (7)
of the whole group (14). For me it is easier to listen and respond to that
number. The group really seemed to bond during this retreat due, I feel, in
large part to the skill of the facilitators. I learned a lot about data
gathering methods and feel at ease to contact other group members with
questions.
The size of the half groups: Small enough to
handle individual yet large enough for more minds to operate. Modeling the task
with the large group before it was repeated in the smaller working groups.
Support from everyone and extra kindness
that was shown by many. Thursday night’s evaluation activity. Change of pacing.
I liked all of the one-on-one, personal
feedback we received. The comments helped me understand my project and the
process.
I liked the sense of community that has
evolved. I liked the order of events – it followed my order of curiosity and
made sense as things developed. I wasn’t bored and was here for three days. It
was interesting and invigorating.
I liked working together to help a person
refine/develop research question. I particularly liked working in the groups of
7 or 8.
The group work and support. I felt like we
got some real direction on all of our projects. Good amounts of time for each
bit of the work. The variety of activities (jigsaw, mall, small group, larger,
group and whole group.) This kept me stimulated when I felt the energy level
falling off.
2. What are your suggestions for planning
the next practitioner research retreat?
Would it be possible to have an agenda and
meeting times in more time prior to the next meeting?
More reflection time, when and if possible.
But I understand…
Pair people in the rooms according to the
following criteria: light sleepers vs. people who snore; smokers vs. nonsmokers;
early risers vs. night owls.
More music. I like the early finish.
Perhaps just one: allow for more private
time.
I trust the process and our facilitators. I
seriously don’t have any that I can think of.
Keep mixing up the seating.
More time reflecting.
More one-on-one time with the facilitators
and/or time alone reflecting and planning. That really helped me to focus and
understand the bigger questions. Let people choose their roommates.
Identify the people who snore and make them
room together, or alternately, identify the light sleepers (me).
It gets a little exhausting because it’s so
intensive. Longer breaks or lighter loads might help although I’m not sure if
it’s possible with the amount of work we have to do.
Virginia Adult Education Research Network
Meeting Three, March 30-31, 2000
Participants
Evaluation Comments
1. In general, what worked at this
retreat?
The mix of activities worked -- the line up;
the visuals; the small and large groups. The demonstration helped too.
I really appreciated the time alone to wok
with data. Also, for the “alien” activity I was in the group of two, and working
with a partner rather than a small group worked very well.
Long hours of [independent] work and the
in-depth discussions – with me - about my research. Thank you so much. The whole
thing worked very well for me.
The larger groups were good. Some of the
complete group discussions went too far astray. Uninterrupted quiet time was
also great.
As always, your individual input was so
great. The detailed and thoughtful planning you did pays off always. I
appreciate your professionalism.
The group demonstration and the activity
with the sorting
The extensive time to work either on our own
or with colleagues was invaluable. Doing that here (aside from the obvious
“people” resources available) allowed me to focus and concentrate and practice
right on the heels of talking abstractly about data analysis.
Thanks for the time to think and sort.
All the free time to filter and sort our
data.
2. What are your suggestions for planning
the next research retreat?
Sometimes the discussions (e.g. findings vs.
interpretations) went off into too many directions. Perhaps it should have been
cut off [sooner]. More actual means of organizing data rather than leaving it to
each one’s style may have helped.
Next retreat: a non-research activity Friday
night would be fun. I’m worried about having a writing retreat. For me writing
is a very solitary individual activity. I don’t know if I’m going to be
comfortable sharing my writing with others before it is finished. Also, I’m
concerned about writing within the time constraints and or product expectations
(i.e. in two hours come back with a written outline).
I liked the structure of this retreat with
all the hours used for working [independently]. It also helped me see how others
work.
Keep up the good work.
Thursday was a loaded day. I was really
tired by the end and it was hard to focus. Maybe tackle that earlier, in some
way.
3. What resources do you need for the
next retreat?
Thanks for the offer of a lap.
A transcription machine. And I need a laptop
for the next retreat. As always you both did an excellent job planning and
facilitating this retreat.
I will be sending you a copy of the data and
be asking some questions about how well I am analyzing it.
I believe I’ll work with a colleague then
see if I need additional help.
The laptops at the final retreat will be
fabulous. I can’t really think of anything that I need, but the great thing is
that if something comes up, I know there’s a place to go to get support.
Just you being there...
Virginia Adult
Education Research Network
Meeting Four, May
18-20, 2000
Participant
Evaluation Comments
Toward the end of Meeting Four, a structured
discussion, “What Does Practitioner Research Mean?” occurred serving as a
summative evaluation for the research group; therefore, we, the facilitators,
didn’t press the participants to complete another evaluation form. Three people
did, however, submit additional comments:
1. This
retreat was great! I enjoyed the entire process and was pleased to see how
everything came together at the end. I liked the time alone and the feedback.
Suggestion: This program needs to be refunded!
2. Good retreat. Great fellowship. Best facilitators!
3. Dear Ronna and Cassie,
In addition to
the comments that I made in the group activity, I just wanted to tell you how
much I appreciate all the time and effort that you put into arranging our
retreats; everything from the facilities to the workshops’ content.
I will pass on
what I gained from this event by encouraging other teachers to take advantage of
Virginia research opportunities as they arise. Now that I have learned the
research process I can take that process and lead others through it.
Through my research
efforts I have gained a deeper understanding of the issues and concerns of our
teachers. I will be able to hold more meaningful training sessions and collect
classroom activities that will not only benefit our whole staff but will benefit
the profession as a whole.
I feel like this
experience has given me a platform from which I can launch stronger program
support efforts and encourage other programs to critically reflect on how they
are supporting their teachers.
Thank you again
for this opportunity. You have not only enriched my life but the lives of those
I touch.
Sue Barton
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