NCTE Fall conference workshop: Call for Roundtable proposals

smagor who-is-at aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu
Wed, 1 May 96 08:45:58 -0500

>>>
>>> ROUNDTABLE PROPOSALS SOLICITED FOR FALL CONFERENCE WORKSHOP
>>>This fall at the NCTE conference in Chicago, the Assembly for
>>>Research will sponsor a one-day workshop in which we explore the
>>>theme, "What is Research?: Perspectives on the Process of Inquiry."
>>>Conceptions of what constitutes "research" have changed in recent
>>>years. Not long ago, aspiring researchers were advised that they
>>>could not study their own classrooms, that they should avoid
>>>contaminating their data through their observations, that they
>>>needed to publish their findings in a journal in order to establish
>>>credibility, that sole-authored articles in major refereed journals
>>>were the only respectable publications. Many developments have
>>>raised questions about these traditional beliefs about the conduct
>>>of educational research: the recognition of the importance of
>>>teacher-research; questions about the ethics of university
>>>researchers who regard teachers and students as "subjects" for
>>>study; the establishment of perspectives that argue for the
>>>inherent subjectivity of researchers; and other perspectives
>>>grounded in epistemologies outside the traditional mainstream. The
>>>purpose of the workshop is to provide a forum in which classroom-
>>>based and university-based researchers can discuss what they
>>>believe research to be, how they believe research can be conducted,
>>>what they feel are appropriate ways of sharing their research, what
>>>the relationship between researcher and researched ought to be, and
>>>other questions that are central to the valid and ethical conduct
>>>of research from a variety of perspectives. Such a conversation
>>>can help researchers learn from one another about their approaches
>>>to conducting research.
>>>
>>>Topics: Below are three illustrative questions that the workshop
>>>could consider. Along with each major question are additional
>>>questions that reflect more specifically the kinds of issues that
>>>the workshop could deal with. However, specific issues and topics
>>>will be shaped by speakers at the workshop.
>>>
>>>1. How do different ontological stances suggest different modes of
>>>inquiry? The invited speakers to the workshop will represent
>>>different perspectives on research: quantitative approaches,
>>>teacher-research approaches, researcher-teacher approaches (i.e.,
>>>"outside" researchers whose goals include providing instruction
>>>through their data collection), and cultural perspectives. Each
>>>set of invited speakers will define research from their perspective
>>>on classroom processes and discuss how their methodology is
>>>appropriate for their perspective.
>>>
>>>2. How can research change teachers, students, and researchers?
>>>In other words, how does the process of participating in research
>>>affect those involved? What do we learn from research as both
>>>participants and as a professional community?
>>>
>>>3. How can we achieve more pluralistic, less contentious views of
>>>research? Researchers are often methodologically at odds with one
>>>another, as in the "qualitative" vs. "quantitative" dispute that
>>>has torn the profession for years. Additionally, "teachers" and
>>>"researchers" often pit themselves against one another at the
>>>expense of benefitting from one another's knowledge and
>>>experiences. How can the field define research so that educators
>>>are encouraged to inquire into the practice of teaching and the
>>>processes of learning so that both individuals and the field as a
>>>whole continue to grow?
>>>
>>>As in previous years, this workshop will involve both presentations
>>>and break-out sessions. Following the example of previous years'
>>>workshops, all speakers will be asked to share in-process work and
>>>to give workshop participants opportunities to discuss one
>>>another's research from their own perspectives. This year, four
>>>sets of invited speakers will each discuss their perspective on
>>>research for 45 minutes:
>>>
>>>Quantitative approaches: George Hillocks, Jr., & P. David Pearson
>>>The view from the classroom: Judy Buchanan, Marci Resnick, & Beth
>>> Yeager
>>>Cultural studies: Kris Gutierrez & Geneva Smitherman
>>>Community-based research: Arnetha Ball & Linda Flower
>>>
>>>In addition, we seek proposals for roundtable presentations that
>>>can contribute to the discussion of how we define and conduct
>>>research. Proposals (2 single-spaced page limit) are welcome from
>>>researchers from all sites and perspectives. In your proposal,
>>>identify (1) the perspective you take as a researcher, including
>>>the theoretical base from which you adopt this perspective; (2) an
>>>account of research you have conducted from that perspective,
>>>preferably recently-conducted or in-process work that will reveal
>>>the relationship between your perspective and methodology; (3) a
>>>statement of what you can contribute to this discussion through
>>>your roundtable. We regret that we cannot waive the workshop fee
>>>for roundtable presenters, nor can we cover any other expenses. We
>>>will have coffee at the break, however. Send one copy of your
>>>proposal to each of the following by May 1:
>>>
>>>Carol D. Lee
>>>Northwestern University
>>>School of Education and Social Policy
>>>2003 Sheridan Rd.
>>>Evanston, IL 60201
>>>cdlee who-is-at merle.acns.nwu.edu
>>>
>>>Peter Smagorinsky
>>>U. of Oklahoma
>>>College of Education
>>>820 Van Vleet Oval
>>>Norman, OK 73019-0260
>>>psmagorinsky who-is-at uoknor.edu
>>
>
Peter Smagorinsky
University of Oklahoma
College of Education
Department of Instructional Leadership and Academic Curriculum
820 Van Vleet Oval
Norman, OK 73019-0260
(405)325-3533
fax: (405)325-4061
smagor who-is-at aardvark.ucs.uoknor.edu
psmagorinsky who-is-at uoknor.edu