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Research on Collaborative Teacher Inquiry: Skamania Conference

The NSF-funded STRIDE research project, housed at Washington State University Vancouver, hosted an invitation-only conference on May 27-28, 2009. The selected theme was Research on Collaborative Teacher Inquiry. The conference was held at Skamania Lodge in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area, approximately 45 miles from Portland, Oregon.

The primary goal of the conference was to gather a group of 20-25 individuals interested in the conference theme to share their current work, perspectives, methodologies, results, and questions. Large and small group discussion sessions comprised the bulk of conference activity. Framing remarks by Hilda Borko provided a highlight to the opening day. Ample time was provided to better know colleagues and share work in more informal settings. The conference addressed the following questions (refinement of these questions was a focus of our work).

  • What is collaborative teacher inquiry?
  • What do we know about collaborative teacher inquiry?
  • How do internal and external factors support or inhibit teacher collaborative inquiry?

Before arriving at the conference, participants developed a 1500-2500 word document addressing critical issues facing the field regarding the conference theme. Proceedings are now available to the entire research community.