•  Activity 1: Sharing Our Answers to the Research Questions (3 hrs)  Participants prepare brief presentations to share their research findings with colleagues and discuss the significance of their research.  Activity includes time for independent work, group meetings and facilitator/participant conferences.
   

• Activity 2: Drafting the Research Briefs (approximately 8 hrs spanning 1-2 days)  Participants sketch out the main sections of the research brief and complete an initial draft. Activity includes time for independent work, periodic support group meetings and facilitator/participant conferences.

Activity 1: Sharing Our Answers to the Research Questions

Group Process:         

Part one: Introduce this activity by reminding participants of the research work they accomplished since the third meeting. People should have all their data in its analyzed form (whatever that might be) with them at Meeting Four. For most participants – that means they have completed the mechanics of the individual analysis process including these steps:

• Read, read, and reread the data,

• Develop categories,

• Code the data,

• Sort the data, and

• Develop and document some of the findings.

Explain to the group that now is the time to turn to the more mental aspects of data analysis. Subsequently, the first ninety minutes of activity have been planned so that the participants work independently to continue the individual data analysis; to draw conclusions and develop research findings. The findings-in-research are written statements summarizing broadly the various things the researcher has learned from the data; in other words, responses to the research questions.

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Prior to Meeting Four, participants were instructed to pull some evidence from their research data to substantiate their findings, that is, what they have discovered.  Participants were also asked to think about putting their thoughts about this in writing.

Explain to the group that for the next ninety minutes they will continue working with their own data to prepare a brief report about their research findings, which they will present in small groups of fellow researchers. The presentations should be ten minutes or less in length. Instruct the participants to address the following items as they prepare their presentations:

• What do participants believe about their research situation now that they have analyzed the data? Prepare examples from the data to explain.
• How could others benefit from what they have learned? (“Others” includes students, teachers, coordinators, and administrators.)
• Reflect back to Meeting One when everyone examined the assumptions that were imbedded in their view of the research problem. How have participants’ beliefs about adult learning, good teaching practice, and students been affected by the research process?
• What questions about their research situation do participants still have? What new questions have they raised?

Explain to participants that when they return to give their presentations each person will have twenty minutes of the group’s time: ten minutes to present the research followed by another ten minutes for discussion and focused feedback.

Some participants may not want any feedback from colleagues. Remind the group that in these instances “critical friends” should not offer advice or evaluate each other’s work. The small group discussions should instead be an opportunity for researchers to ask clarifying questions or to respond to an outstanding aspect of the presentation or to the research data overall. The groups may also use the time to engage in an open-ended conversation about the ideas or themes in the research and the new questions that the researchers’ projects raise. Participants who want feedback from colleagues should think about the kind of feedback that would be most helpful. Suggest they prepare a focusing question (or questions) to help guide everyone’s feedback and discussion.

Survey the participants’ preferences for research topics, before the group disperses to work individually.  Use a checklist of the group’s research projects. Have the members select their top ten or so choices indicating the presentations they are most interested in. Use this information to select the small groups (approximately six researchers each).

Respond to remaining questions participants have about the focus of the activity. Participants disperse to continue their data analysis. Some may remain in the common meeting room long enough to schedule facilitator/participant consultations and or clarify the work that needs to occur.

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Activity 1, Part 2:  Presenting the Research Results in Small Groups

Group Process:

Before participants return to the common meeting room, facilitators have posted a list of small groups for the presentations. (Around six participants in each group.) During the small group discussions, the facilitators float around, in and out of sessions, listening and observing, playing a relatively minor support role. Participants bring their focusing questions to guide the groups’ listening and discussion. At the conclusion of the research presentations, bring the groups back together for general comments, questions and praise. (10 minutes)   

(Participant break)

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Activity 2: Drafting the Research Briefs
 

Group Process:

Begin by clarifying the group’s expectations for the next two days and the work they can accomplish. Participants will concentrate primarily on writing the first draft of their research briefs. During this period of time, once (or twice depending on the participants’ interests and needs) the group will reconvene to share their progress and discuss how things are going. Now discuss the group’s large goal of completing an initial draft – with all the main sections sketched in -- before the conclusion of Meeting Four.

Emphasize that although the first draft is meant to be rough it should never the less be complete, with all the main sections sketched out. Further explain to participants some of the time and steps involved in the writing and editing process: revisions and more revisions will be made; proofing and completing the reports for publication comes next; and then there’s the layout.  This work occurs after participants have returned home.

Assure everyone that they will receive the support necessary to make the reports “copy ready” but reiterate to participants the importance of completing the first draft research briefs at this meeting. Further comment, as necessary, and assure participants that you will communicate via email, telephone, and fax in order to get the work done, just like in the preceding stages of your research and development work.

Next, answer any general kinds of questions about meeting logistics or writing the research briefs.  Tell participants where you (and the printer) will be stationed.  Facilitators should situate themselves in a central location with a computer and printer, available always to meet with researchers, provide technical support and guidance, etc. Post a sign-up sheet to schedule facilitator/participant conferences.

Note any participants who are not yet ready to draft a report. Advise these folks to continue working from wherever they left off -- in the data analysis process.

Finally, tell the group to return to the main meeting room in three hours to report progress and see how things are going. Ask participants to reconvene prepared to give a short report (a few minutes in length) that addresses these questions:

• Where are participants in the writing process?
• What’s easy? What’s hard? What questions do participants have?

Respond to final questions and comment. Participants depart to work on their research briefs. (3 ½ hours)

Reconvene participants for progress reports and to assess how the group’s work is going. After everyone has reported around – respond to the participants’ questions and comments. Assess the various needs/interests in the group and decide how to spend the next large block of time. Facilitate a discussion to decide the participants’ next steps, individually and as a group. Some (or all) of the participants, for example, may wish to continue writing and working alone. On the other hand, there may be some participants who, having completed a draft or partial draft, would like to discuss their writing in a small group, or with a partner. Before participants leave to pursue their next steps, schedule another whole group meeting, in approximately four hours. Tell participants to be prepared to deliver another round of progress reports then. Respond to the group’s remaining questions.

(One hour for the group meeting)
 

Conclusion of the session: Participants depart to continue writing their research briefs. Facilitators remain available to provide participants with technical support and individual attention.

Session 15: Celebrating Our Accomplishments

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