The inquiry process is not necessarily sequential. It may start with a hunch. Team members will likely have hunches about why things are the way they are. Some may hold these views passionately. Getting strong views on the table where everyone can discuss and test them is fundamental to moving forward together.
REMINDER:
It is tempting at this point to jump into "fix-it mode". We've focused on an area where we think we can make a difference and want to get stuck in right away. Hunch mode is where we examine the factors which could be contributing to the challenge.
As teachers we love coming up with and trying new approaches to addressing a challenge.
But consider the broken hose analogy:
If the hose has sprung a leak, instead of finding a brand new way of fixing it, step back and consider what may be contributing to the cause of the leak. And even beyond that; is the hose even still the best water delivery system anymore?
Spotlight CaseBe open to the possibility that your hunch is offside.
In one example, some teachers were convinced that students were not doing their homework because they were spending too much time on social media. The inquiry team tested their hunch through a series of student focus groups and discovered that much of the homework was repetitive and dull. By testing out this hunch in a thorough and respectful way, the team was able to shift the focus to the ways in which the professionals were contributing to the problem. (Timperley, Kaser and Halbert 2014, 14) |
Considerations
- Provoke your team to be curious, not defensive.
- Focus on areas over which you have control.
- Find quick ways to test your hunches.
- Involve learners and their families in checking your hunches.
- Record & reflect with your team about what is working or not so others may learn from your experiences too.
Developing a hunch involves
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Developing a hunch is NOT
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have the confidence to put ideas on the table. Your hunch may not be grounded in fact - quite yet.