Powerful Conversations Quarterly Meeting
February 8, 2006

On February 8, 2006, the Quarterly Meeting of the Powerful Conversations Network was held in the auditorium of the Alabama Power building in downtown Birmingham. Well-known educational consultant, Dale Hair was the speaker and addressed the topic, “Examining Student Work.” One hundred seventy-three participants representing sixty-three schools from all over the state attended the meeting.

Participants were led through a series of activities designed to lead to a greater understanding of what “Examining Student Work” really means. Through video excerpts, readings and small group activities and discussions, participants examined two different “protocols” for examining student work­—Standards in Practice (SIP) and the Tuning Protocol. They learned how the steps involved in the two different processes link assessment, instruction, and professional development and how they support learning communities among the faculty members.

The meeting started with an exploration of the research behind examining student work and the common elements of practice among teachers in schools that participated in the studies. After learning how these elements of practice impact instructional improvement, they learned how and why specific protocols are used when examining student work. Participants also discussed dilemmas and problems that occur during the process as well as specific keys that lead to success. Selected video excerpts illustrated the procedure of examining student work and group discussions helped clarify the process and roles of the teachers who participate.

The meeting ended with participants examining what they learned and making plans for those “next steps” to be taken. All of the participants were given a form to fill out, which allowed them to list specific steps they would like to have accomplished within the next month, by the end of the school year and by the start of the next school year in terms of incorporating examining student work into the instructional program at their schools.