BTAR Ch. 6

BTAR Ch. 6

Final Data Interpretation

The chapter begins by challenging us to define interpret. My definition would be; to reconstruct a message in a more understandable form. The authors draw a line between interpretation as instruction and as provocation. This is a difficult concept for me. I want to ANSWER my critical question at times. I want to do an experiment and solve the mystery. The authors suggest that we never truly solve these types of problems and that we never find “truth.” I agree with this concept when it comes to many claims, even many scientific claims.

This book can be frustrating. At times it is describing technical means of data collection and analysis and then quickly turns to “personal meaning making.” These shifts from hard scientific techniques and processes to the “touchy-feely” makes for confusion.

I like the clarity of the general steps to data collection. The tip of taking time with the data, revisiting it, and analyzing it over many sittings makes sense to me. I am familiar with a few data analyzing tools, such as excel pivot tables and slicers, and I know I will use that tool. The other ideas, including, mind mapping, color coding, and charting the “thought-know-want to know” of the data will be helpful and make logical sense to me for my research. However, I will not know until I attempt these processes and use these tools.

Finding colleagues and mentors to bounce ideas off of has always been helpful to me. With my research question in particular I will need to hear from multiple self contained classroom teachers in order to get a feel for what works best for building a strong staff work environment. The book suggests seeking out different perspectives as one of the many layers of data interpretation.

Finally we are given the criteria for trustworthy teacher action research. The idea that jumped out at me the most was “thick data.” This means using multiple perspectives, consulting with mentors and distant colleagues, and illustrating the themes of the research and your recommendations in a way that shows you are on a thorough and unique journey toward improving yourself as a teacher.