Conduct focus groups to hear firsthand from multiple partners and build shared understanding beyond the numbers¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Focus groups let leaders "hear firsthand from multiple educational partners and create an environment in which participants can build on each other's ideas." Qualitative data from focus groups helps leaders see beyond the numbers and better understand what is really going on and how to help. They differ from listening sessions in being smaller, more intimate, and more focused on specific outcomes and predetermined questions.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Predetermined questions focused on specific outcomes, distinguishing them from open-ended listening sessions

Constraints¶

• Smaller and more intimate than listening sessions; suited to specific outcomes rather than open-ended sharing

Target Learners¶

• Groups of students, families, staff, and community members holding unique perspectives on a topic

Target Learning Goals¶

• Understanding problems deeply before selecting solutions
• gathering qualitative data to complement quantitative indicators

Affordances¶

• Five Considerations Engaging Educational Partners

Related Strategies¶

• Conduct one-on-one empathy interviews with open-ended questions to uncover root causes of system challenges
• Hold listening sessions in accessible locations where staff simply listen to educational partners
• Use the Start, Stop, Continue process to surface and act on promising practices with educational partners
• Expert-recommended practices for fostering fun in learning: suggestion boxes, embracing failure, differentiated challenge, and open-ended questions

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Ojetunde, T., & Chavez, A. (2024). Centering the experiences and perspectives of educational partners: Five considerations for schools and districts. California Center for School Climate at WestEd. https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED655789