Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Author
1. Why Collaborative Inquiry?
A Four-Stage Model
Getting Started
2. Stage 1: Framing the Problem
Determining a Meaningful Focus
Determining a Shared Vision
Developing an Inquiry Question
Formulating a Theory of Action
Reflection for Facilitators
3. Stage 2: Collecting Evidence
Developing Knowledge, Competencies, and Shared Understandings
Implementing Changes in Practice
Developing the Data Collection Plan
Reflection for Facilitators
4. Stage 3: Analyzing Evidence
Considering Implementation
Data Analysis
Examining Assumptions
Reflection for Facilitators
5. Stage 4: Documenting, Celebrating and Sharing
Documenting and Sharing
Celebrating
Debriefing the Process
Reflection for Facilitators
Resources
Resource A. Identifying Student Learning Needs
Resource B. Sphere of Concern Versus Realm of Control
Resource C. Examples of Purpose Statements
Resource D. Inquiry Questions--Examples--Strong and Weak
Resource E. Theory of Action T-Chart
Resource F. Innovation Configuration Map Template
Resource G. Data Collection Plan Template
Resource H. Levels of Implementation Templates
Resource I. Collaborative Inquiry Teams--Small Group Sharing
Resource J. Characteristics of Collaborative Inquiry Continuum
Resource K. Characteristics of Collaborative
Inquiry--Start--Stop--Continue
References
Index
Jenni Donohoo is the director of Praxis-Engaging Ideas, Inc and a project manager for the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE). Jenni has a PhD in Educational Studies and Supervisory Officer Qualifications. Jenni is a former classroom teacher and currently works with system, school leaders, and teachers around the world to support high quality professional learning. She has authored many peer-reviewed publications and three best-selling books, including Collaborative Inquiry for Educators, The Transformative Power of Collaborative Inquiry (with Moses Velasco), and Collective Efficacy: How Educators’ Beliefs Impact Student Learning. Jenni’s areas of expertise include collective efficacy, metacognition, adolescent literacy, and facilitating collaborative learning structures.
"Jenni Donohoo′s immensely thoughtful and deeply practical
discussion of collaborative inquiry helps teachers to live up to
and also be enlivened by the high standards of evidence-informed
judgment that define all true professions. Like the world-class
facilitator she is, she moves her readers forward with ideas,
activities and examples that do not talk down to them or go over
their heads. Her book is essential for all leaders, teachers and
staff developers, who want to help all their teachers become
successful professionals, and who want to be treated like top-notch
professionals themselves as they do so."
*Andy Hargreaves, Thomas More Brennan Chair in Education*
"Student learning outcomes increase as educators′ professional
learning contributes to enhanced teaching quality. The most
powerful strategy and structure for this dynamic is the
professional learning community (PLC) and in the PLC context, adult
learning results from the collaborative inquiry of the
participants. The author of this significant guide to facilitating
collaborative inquiry has created a compelling vision of such
inquiry and the professional learning that develops from it. In
clear and unpretentious language, Donohoo guides the user through a
challenging but practical four-step learning sequence so that
teachers learn and subsequently, students achieve--a goal to which
we all subscribe and endorse."
*Shirley M. Hord, Scholar Laureate*
"Donohoo provides a practical and powerful four-step process to
guide collaborative inquiry teams in identifying, inventing, and
investigating solutions to problems of practice that occur in their
everyday work. The tools, examples, and detailed guidelines provide
teacher leaders, coaches, principals, and others with the resources
they need to transform unproductive team meetings into
evidence-based interactions and study that result in improved
practice and results for students."
*Joellen Killion, Senior Advisor*
"Donohoo has provided a rare gift in a book that one can read
forwards, backwards, or in the middle. You can pinpoint your need,
save time, and make immediate use of this excellent resource. The
references are extensive and current. At the back of the
book the reader finds eleven enormously practical and
immediately applicable resources—analytical frameworks and
thought-provoking questions that you can use the first time you
read the text. The chapters include compelling evidence and
practical advice, but it′s too easy for readers to dismiss the last
pages of a book. Don′t make that mistake with this immensely useful
and practical volume."
*Douglas Reeves, Founder*
"Collaborative Inquiry for Educators provides a balance of
conceptual knowledge and pragmatic next steps. Perfect for a grade
level or department chair."
*Thomas Van Soelen, Associate Superintendent*
"Jenni Donohoo’s book articulates in detail what facilitation needs
to look like, along with how to create the conditions to actually
make it happen. It is a must read for anyone trying to actively
develop and support the link between teacher and leader actions,
and positive student outcomes."
*Steven Katz, Director*
"Often educational organizations engage in ′hot topic′ practices,
but not always with knowledge of how to effectively do so. Jenni
Donohoo provides very clear and explicit grounding for an
individual who might be assigned as a facilitator for a
collaborative inquiry within a school system. In the spirit of
collaborative inquiry, Donohoo recognizes the need for
adaptation to different situations and often provides options for
facilitators to consider. Grounding this work in the professional
learning literature, she does an excellent job of weaving citations
from that literature into a guiding manual for how to proceed. I
would certainly recommend this resource to facilitators of or
participants in a collaborative inquiry as well as to
administrators who set up the opportunities for such
collaborations."
*Marian Small, Dean Emerita*
"This book provides detailed, practical, and well-grounded ideas
for those wanting to make professional learning communities work
effectively. It’s a fine resource for anyone working with school
development or improvement."
*Ben Levin, Professor and Canada Research Chair*
"Collaborative Inquiry for Educators is a guide for school leaders
who long to move beyond superficial group meetings and into
meaningful inquiry that effects actual changes in instruction and
student achievement. It provides a timely guide to meeting the
expectations of Common Core Standards."
*Judy Beemer, Literacy Coach and AVID Coordinator*
"This resource is a must have for collaborative team
facilitators."
*Rosetta Riddle, Professional Learning Coordinator*
"This book provides a practical, easy-to-follow overview of
collaborative inquiry for teams of classroom teachers. No longer do
you need to force a match between your school and someone else′s
research, now your teachers can conduct their own authentic
research."
*Charre Todd, Science Teacher*
"Oftentimes a reader will pick up a book and think the ideas are
fantastic, but where most books fall short is in providing
strategies for implementation. Not so with Collaborative Inquiry
for Educators. The steps are clearly laid out, and the author has
taken much of the guesswork of how to share or implement the ideas.
If you are looking for the full package, including research,
strategies, and implementation, then this is a book well worth your
time."
*Christina M. Smith, Social Studies Chair*
"This book is an excellent hands-on manual that will guide
administrators, teachers and potential administrators through the
process of collaborative inquiry. This is a very practical guide to
the process, with numerous vignettes making the process very easy
to understand. If you have a desire to begin the process of
collaborative inquiry in your school, I would definitely recommend
this book."
*Stephen Armstrong, President-Elect*
Ask a Question About this Product More... |