What+is+documentation?

= =

= Introduction = Also see:
 * Return to Documenting Experiences page
 * Documentation workshop (Summer Learning Lab 2012)

“Documentation is an act of communication; it makes public a conversation about what we value. When preparing documentation to stand on its own, documenters need to provide enough context and framing so that others can derive meaning from it. Depending on the purposes and setting for the documentation, the context could include logistical information, such as key names, dates, and age group represented, as well as the purpose of the learning experience.”

– Harvard Project Zero ([])

Documentation emphasizes PROCESS. Documentation is a very important component in the Art in Action Project. Examples can be found in the residency pages:
 * 2010-2011 Residencies
 * 2011-2012 Residencies

**Suggested Ideas for Residency Documentation:**

 * A series of short (6-10) picture slide shows (based on a particular theme such as "Virtual Student Gallery," "First Grade Drama & Reading exercise," "Robot Math Exploration," etc.) and a written description on the wiki.
 * 1 minute or less - audio files of music content related to lessons and written description on the wiki.
 * Series of short 1 minute movement/dance/music/dramatic visual arts videos (with video players) with wiki descriptions.
 * 1 minute slideshows and/or videos of students using technology to document their arts/math/reading learning on the wiki.
 * Slide show with examples of how reading and math skills were infused and a written description on the wiki.
 * Student writing samples/journals/sketchbooks (without any student names) related to arts residency lesson and/or activities, etc. with wiki descriptions of how reading/math skills were incorporated into lesson.
 * Video of school-wide culminating event
 * Interviews of students asking what they learned and explored in arts, math and reading aspects of lessons (and wiki descriptions)
 * Interviews of teachers (such as specific information about what they learned in the residency work)
 * Interviews of the teaching artists
 * Interviews of students
 * Interviews of principals sharing their perspective on the residencies.
 * Picture of the residency team with names listed on the wiki residency page.

**Descriptions might include grade levels, what students learned/explored, standards addressed in the lesson along with big idea and essential questions. It is important that at least a basic description be included next to anything that is uploaded to the wiki.

Other Ideas

 * **Teachers and Artists Collaboration Reflection** (may be included in sketchbook/journal)
 * [[file:Reflection draft2.doc]]


 * **Daily Ideas & Reflections in Sketchbook/Journal** of artist residencies, in process student work and collaborations between students/teaching artist/teacher (These could be photographed and uploaded into Picasa, PhotoBucket, SlideShare or PhotoPeach and embedded into the Art in Action wiki).

> media type="custom" key="8952018"
 * **[|Visual Journals]**(These could be uploaded into Picasa, Google, Docs, SlideShare or PhotoPeach and embedded into Art in Action wiki)
 * Visual Journals created by elementary, early childhood and special educators:
 * (Elementary, early childhood and special educators in arts in education course - Photos courtesy of Camille Dempsey)
 * [|Other Visual Journal Examples]


 * **Videorecordings** of artist residency work with students, student work, teacher/student/teaching artist collaborations (could be uploaded to TeacherTube and embedded into Art in Action wiki)
 * Examples:
 * [|ArtsInfusion Videos]


 * **Photodocumentaries** examples may include stages of artist residency work with students, in process student work with teachers, teacher/student/teaching artist collaborations (photos uploaded into Picassa, PhotoBucket, Slideshare, Photopeach and embedded into Art in Action wiki)
 * Examples:
 * media type="custom" key="8016912" (Mural including developmental stages of children at Teachers College, Columbia University - Photos courtesy of Camille Dempsey )


 * **Electronic Portfolios/Presentations** of artist residency work with students, in process student work, teacher/student classroom work, teacher/student/teaching artist collaborations (using Google Sites, Google Docs, wikis, etc.)


 * **Wiki** pages (with artist residency work with students, in process student work, teacher/student classroom work, teacher/student/teaching artist collaborations included)
 * Wiki Resources
 * Example of similar items that could be included in wiki pages:[| Arts Infusion Examples]


 * **Blogs** (Teacher, student, and/or teaching artist reflections of artist residency work with students, student work, teacher/student classroom work, teacher/student/teaching artist collaborations included)
 * Examples:
 * [|ArtsInfusion]
 * [|ArtandMusicMastered] (arts teachers blogging about technology and education)
 * [|Digital Anthology] (great example of how classroom materials, processes and work is documented)
 * Moving Forward


 * ** Other Web 2.0 Tools **
 * Examples:
 * [|Glogster]


 * **[|Action Research]**(can be recorded in multiple formats such as sketchbook/visual journal, blog, wiki, etc.)


 * **Qualitative Research** - Participant Observation (can be recorded in multiple formats - sketchbook/visual journal, blog, wiki, etc.)
 * [|Tips & 5 Types of Participant Observation/Interviewing]
 * [|Qualitative Research Methods Overview]