5A.1
Starting the Conversation:
How do we begin a dialogue?


Around the halfway point in your study is a good time to get some response to what you’ve been thinking and the information you've been collecting. Your question is still important. Everything arises from it. So, you'll share questions first to see what’s happened since you formulated them.

The optimal group size for this question conversation is four or five. If your learning community is larger than eight, consider splitting into small groups. Everyone will get an opportunity to see the progress with the questions even if you work in multiple groups. You’ll need flipchart paper or very large sheets of paper and three colors (black, blue and red) of magic markers for each group.

Directions for discussion (Limit discussion time to 10 – 15 minutes per group member):

Each person takes a turn to explain and record (or ask someone else to record):
1. His/her original inquiry study question in black magic marker on one sheet of paper.

2. "Catalyzed" questions (the important questions that have arisen as a result of the inquiry study to date) in blue magic marker on a different sheet paper. (These questions may be culled directly from the participant’s observation log.)

3. The participant opens the conversation by asking for responses and particularly questions from the group about his/her inquiry study and the catalyzed questions. Record the questions from the group in red magic marker on a third sheet of paper.

Each participant repeats the three steps above adding his/her original question in black marker to the sheet for original questions, the catalyzed questions in blue marker on the catalyzed question sheet of paper, and the group's questions in red marker on the third sheet. Post the sheets of paper around the room for reference as you continue to share your initial findings.

If multiple, small groups have worked on this activity, provide time for pairs of participants to do a walk and talk. (For more information about walks and talks, refer to the facilitator's note in section 1A.3.) Take ten minutes to sit in a circle and call for statements regarding what people learned during the walk and talk.