We speak with Dr. Cecelia Traugh and Dr. Cara Furman, co-authors of “Descriptive Inquiry in Teacher Practice: Cultivating Practical Wisdom to Create Democratic Schools.” Descriptive inquiry is a structured, collaborative process in which teachers share and get practical feedback on classroom challenges. Breaking down teachers’ isolation, descriptive inquiry encourages non-confrontational conversations about racial and other biases. Teachers benefit not only from the wisdom of their colleagues but also from the safe space and supportive community.
Overview
00:00-00:44 Intros
00:44-04:18 Descriptive inquiry
04:18-07:32 How descriptive inquiry was developed
07:32-09:17 Phenomenology
09:17-09:48 Summer Institute
09:48-14:37 Developing relationships (with faculty or with parents); talking about race
14:37-19:33 Questions of race within faculty practice; looking at biases
19:33-24:01 Teasing out cultural norms; developing community
24:01-26:29 Descriptive inquiry as being value laden
26:29-31:05 Helping teachers feel comfortable sharing
31:05-36:38 Writing the book: why now and why people should read it
36:38- Outro
Transcript
Click here to see the full transcription of this episode.
References
Soundtrack by Poddington Bear
We continue our conversation with Dr. Garrett Broad of Fordham University, talking about high school and college students’ experiences working with non-profits and about...
We talk with Mark Gordon, founder of the Friends and Relationships Course, a program in New Mexico that provides classes for adults with intellectual...
Cynthia Trapanese, a teacher who spent 17 years as a pediatric chaplain, observes that we are all grieving right now, and that adults need...
