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
Master basketball coach Mark Jerome speaks candidly about social emotional complexities in sports culture and how his own ethical sensitivities have evolved over his...
We speak with Dr. Brian Jones, director of the New York Public Library’s Center for Educators and Schools, which provides all sorts of free...
We speak with Dr. LaToya Baldwin Clark, assistant professor at UCLA School of Law. Dr. Baldwin Clark explains how school boundaries are used for...
