...
After deciding on an area of inquiry, you will need to identify sources of information that will help to answer your questions. IdeallyIf possible, you will be able to should gather and analyze multiple sources of data to help you develop a deep understanding of the CCMR problem of practice you selected. Types of information you might gather include: demographic data, assessments, accountability data, TAPR reports, interviews, focus groups, surveys, and district documents related to CCMR programs. Ideally, you will be able to gather data from multiple sources and then triangulate that information to ensure that a variety of sources corroborate your findings (see table below). Keep in mind that the people who are impacted by the potential problem of practice (e.g., students, teachers, etc.) can offer unique perspectives. Consider gathering more information from these groups through empathy interviews or through other techniques.
Depending on your district’s needs and the resources available, you may choose to focus on one or two questions or you may engage in a comprehensive inquiry that addresses all of the questions listed below. In a similar manner, for each question, you may choose to gather information from one data source or draw upon multiple data sources.
Question | Review existing data (quantitative) | Document review (qualitative) | Interviews/ focus groups |
Describe the district’s longitudinal performance on CCMR outcomes (see tool link below). | X |
|
|
Describe the CCMR landscape in the district (programs, district/campus roles, board goals, district vision, etc.). |
| X | X |
What resources are available to support CCMR programs (internal and external)? |
| X | X |
What strengths/assets can the district build upon? | X | X | X |
What barriers might stand in the way of improving CCMR outcomes in the district? |
| X | X |
...
Tips and Tools
Use a CCMR Indicators template and a modified version of the TEA CCMR board goals template to add historical data and generate charts that highlight equity gaps and surface opportunities to expand programs related to particular CCMR indicators. See sample charts generated by the tool below.
...
High Tech High Graduate School of Education: empathy interview protocol
Liberatory Design toolkit, which includes some innovative ways to gather data from different perspectives (starting on p. 39 pdf)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) evaluation brief: interviews
CDC evaluation brief: document review
CDC evaluation brief: focus groups
CDC evaluation brief: surveys
CDC evaluation brief: visual representations of quantitative data
CDC evaluation brief: crafting questions to guide your inquiry/evaluation
...