Embarking on an Adventure While Drawing the Map

Embarking on an Adventure While Drawing the Map: Journeys Through Critical Friend Work in Self-study Methodology

Critical Friend Presenters • Arvinder Johri, School Administrator, English Teacher • Jennifer Magaha O’Looney, School Psychologist • Mary Jane Mc. Ilwain, Reading Recovery Teacher and Reading Coach/Specialist • Tamie Pratt-Fartro, Reading Specialist

Critical Friend Colleagues • Deanna Breslin, Research/Evaluation Specialist • Kavita Mittapalli, Research/Evaluation Specialist • • • Anastasia Samaras, Professor Mary Adams-Legge, English Dept. Chair Jean. Marie Infranco, Mental Health Therapist Bernadine Pearson, Program Evaluation Dawn Renee Wilcox, Administrator

What Creates a Critical Friend?

Theoretical Framework • Situated learning (Vygotsky, 1981) • Tensions toward change (Russell, 2002) • Supportive and interactive community (La. Boskey, 2004) • Structure can be problematic (Mc. Niff, Lomax, & Whitehead, 2003; Russell & Schuck, 2004; Schuck & Segar, 2007)

Questions • What roles did the critical friend play in shaping our understanding of self-study? • What role did the critical friend play in the self-study course? • What characteristics enabled the shaping of critical friend work? • What lessons did we learn about critical friend work during the course that would be useful to others?

Methods • Vignettes based on critical friend work • Open, axial, selective coding • Member checks

Findings Roles and Optimal Feedback • Critical friend has two tasks: critiquing and offering suggestions • Support and feedback were provided through letter writing • Critical friends had doubts about the value of their feedback • Sparked deeper reflection of our work

Roles and Optimal Feedback From my critical friend: “Here’s a thought on the negative energy in your journal reflections. Maybe the negative entries are like the cocoon surrounding your beautiful butterfly. You need to peel it away, by writing, a little at a time to reveal your brighter self. ”

Findings Enhancing Self-Reflection Focusing on the so-what “Being and having a critical friend helped provide a foundation for self-reflection in one’s work” – Bernadine Critical scrutiny of one’s own work “Things I asked my critical friend to look for, I began to challenge myself to find in my own project. ” – Jennifer

Enhancing Self-Reflection To my critical friend: “Jeanmarie, thanks for sharing your fears and conflicts. Bernadine’s question pertaining to who you are expecting to answer your questions is a solid thought-churner. Recognition of this pull and push cycle is an essential step to understand what can help you break it and whether in the first place you desire to be out of it. ”

Findings Accessibility • Available and reliable • Multiple modes (email, phone, in-person) • Eased anxiety in learning new methodology • Learning through collaboration and communication • Plan for sustaining critical friendship

Accessibility • Mary. Jane to Tamie: “Thanks so much for your thoughtful questions and guidance. Your …honest collaboration and research has captured my thoughts. I hope you are able to see your influence as I lay out my developing research proposal. ” • Tamie to Mary. Jane: “Ah, could I actually be making connections? We’re learning and that’s the whole point. You have been the most glorious critical friend. Let’s keep it going. ”

Findings Sustainability Time investment consisting of: • Peer feedback during dissertation • Building collegial trust at work • Keeping our questioning in perspective • Continuous improvement The time investment creates a feed forward system.

Sustainability Mary Jane to Tamie: • “Your questions about how and why knowing your intentions creates more open and honest collaboration and research has captured my thoughts. It is making me…wonder as I refine my questions…. ” • “Hey Friend, I just reread your response to my letter. Your questions and comments really are pulling new thoughts from me…”

What Creates a Critical Friend?

Take Away Points • Critical friends provide validation for the selfstudy research method • Can be used by professors, graduate students, professionals • Open opportunities for deeper insight through constructive and supportive criticism • Can grow and evolve through education and career changes • Sustainability is the goal

“…to find the reason that bids you…” -Rilke “I believe that if we look hard enough, things that are right in front of us will allow us to know ourselves and the gifts we can give to the world. ” -Anastasia Samaras Self-study for Teacher Educators, 2002