Learning experiences
What learning experiences did Catherine engage in to address her inquiry question?
After her conversation with Jack, Catherine asked two of her colleagues to help her analyse the interaction. She hoped that this would help her to both understand how she could have achieved a more satisfactory dialogue with Jack and prepare for her next meeting with him.
Catherine reconstructed the dialogue from memory and annotated it.
With her colleague Allan playing Jack, she then role-played the conversation. Another colleague, Michael, observed the role play.
Pause here and use the transcript to briefly consider:
- Can you identify any critical points or problematic moments where things “went wrong” in the conversation?
Michael, Catherine, and Allan discussed the role play and identified problematic moments in the conversation to analyse, asking “What is it, especially in Catherine's actions, that results in an unsatisfactory interaction for her?”
The three colleagues then planned and trialled alternative responses by Catherine at these moments. Three of these moments are presented below.
Moment 1
The first moment for analysis occurs at the opening of the conversation.
Pause here and use the transcript to discuss:
- What do you think about Catherine’s second attempt?
- Has she been successful in obtaining Jack’s genuine agreement to engage?
- How do you know?
Here’s what Catherine, Allan, and Michael thought.
Pause here and use the transcript to discuss:
- What do you think was different about Michael’s attempt?
- Has he been more successful in obtaining Jack’s genuine agreement to engage?
- How do you know?
Here’s what Catherine, Allan, and Michael thought.
Pause here and use the transcript to discuss:
- How does the analysis of the participants align with your own earlier analysis?
- What evidence would you look for to judge success?
- How important are Allan’s comments (on Jack’s behalf) in identifying the success of the different attempts?
Perpectives
John Loughran
John Loughran presents an alternative view to that of Viviane Robinson on this moment.
Moment 2
The second moment for analysis concerns Jack’s response to using learning intentions.
Pause here and use the transcript to discuss:
- How successful has Catherine been in expressing her concern about Jack’s engagement and having him respond openly?
- If you think she has been successful, why? What did she do that achieved the desired result?
Here’s what Catherine, Allan, and Michael felt.
Moment 3
The third moment for analysis concerns Catherine’s tendency to argue for something rather than checking on the response of the person she’s working with.
Pause here and use the transcript to discuss:
- What are the consequences for Jack of Catherine not stopping and checking on how he’s feeling? What are the consequences for herself?
- Why then do you think Catherine doesn’t stop and check?
Here’s what Catherine, Allan, and Michael thought.
Catherine and Allan then reran this part of the conversation.
Pause here and use the transcript to discuss:
- Why is Jack (as reported by Allan) feeling the most engaged so far?
- What is it about Catherine’s practice that has achieved this?
Here’s what the participants thought.
Pause here and discuss:
- How do you think Catherine might cue herself to stop arguing for something and start checking in earlier?
Perpectives
John Loughran
John Loughran presents an alternative view to that of Viviane Robinson on this moment.
(Michael outlines the thinking behind the approaches and decisions he took while working with Catherine and Allan.)
Conclusion
Finally, Catherine and Allan replayed the complete conversation, taking account of their learning from their role plays and analysis.
Pause here and, using the transcripts, compare the original conversation (Clip 3) and this conversation:
- Is this second conversation more effective?
- Has Catherine solved the problems identified in the first conversation with Jack?
- To what extent has she addressed her learning needs and explored her inquiry question?
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