Teaching as Inquiry

The best 5 ideas on HOW to improve your own

professional practice as a teacher and/or as a leader

of learning within your school.Presenter: Tanya Thompson

Acting Principal, St Andrews Middle School 

We are all learners: changing a school

culture

Tip 1: Be Ready and Able

• be prepared to inquire into your own practice– as a teacher– as a leader

of learning

Discussion Point

• What mental model is needed to inquire into our own practice?

• How can we position ourselves to become ready and able??

• How can we position others around us??

Tip 2: Know - How

When inquiring/researching into your practice you need a systematic way so that you can gain evidence

– to support your change in practice

OR– affirm existing practices

Action research is the study of a

social situation with a view to improving the

quality of action within it.

Cardno and Piggot-Irvine, 1991

Action Research Process

1. Collect data and analyse it

- student achievement

- student learning

- student voice

- teacher practice data

- leadership practice data

Be selective with data collection – stay focussed

2. Look at what research has to say

• Professional readings

• Collegial discussions

• Visit other classrooms/

schools

3. Make a Plan and reflect on it

Set a simple action plan which targets your areas of

– Concerns…– wonderings ….– low or poor performance….. etc

How do I know????

• Reflect and evaluate as you go– Can I collect evidence of learning? – Is it impacting on student learning?

How do I know?– Is it impacting on my staff?

School culture? How do I know?

• Where is my evidence????

4. Collect comparative data and analyse it

- student achievement- student learning - student voice- teacher practice data- leadership practice data

Am I making a difference? Are my new or enhanced practices

more effective?How do I know? Where is my evidence?

5. Share it and celebrate

• We are all learners and we can teach each other so much

• Share your findings– Other colleagues – Students– Parents– The wider community

Teachers/Leaders need to see hard evidence

Teachers/Leaders need to be supported when modifying their practice.

Teachers/Leaders need to see the necessity for change for themselves

No matter where you start…

each component spirals into the others

Discussion Point

• General Q and A re: process

• Examples available

Contact details:

Tanya Thompson

tanyat@sams.school.nz

Tip 3: Structures which support teacher/leader inquiry

Clear School-wide Expectations

•Trust established within the school culture

• A professional culture of learning and teaching

•Inquiring about practice is the ‘norm’

•Data analysis

•Evidence based planning and assessment

•All learning should be transparent

Staff Meetings

Learning vs OrganisationStaff meetings are specifically set aside for goal setting/assessment, discussion

of professional readings and sharing and celebration of teachers/leaders

practice.

In-Class, On-the-Job, Hands-on

Professional Support

•Modelling of best practice

•Release time

•Both in-house and consultant knowledge base of best practice

•Individual/group support with practices

Appraisal Process

•set goals in relation to their practice in appraisal documentation

•collect baseline/comparative data

•keep a reflective journal

•share and celebrate changes in practice

reflection within our practice leads to higher confidence

and a positive culture of change

Discussion Point

• What structures does your place of learning currently have which support inquiry in our own practice??

• What structures do you need to put in place to ensure success??

Tip 4: Look for Evidence

• Seek out evidence of learning/effectiveness of practices

• Did I achieve what I set out to do? Do I now have more questions?

Did I raise student achievement?

Reaction to

Student/Staff voice

• How do you collect student/staff voice?

• What do you do with it?

• How does it impact on

your teaching and learning?

Your leading?

Discussion Point

• What evidence do you look for to know you are making a difference? Raising student achievement?

• Do you have hard evidence to support these?? How could you from now on??

Tip 5: ACTION IT

• Action your new practices

• Implement changes

• Look at measures to sustain the change

Be the change factor

– make the difference