Bradley Ermeling

  Research  +8
Dr. Brad Ermeling is an education author and member of a research team from UCLA
and Stanford. He spent seven years working as an educator in Japan, developing
firsthand knowledge and expertise with Japanese lesson stu… more
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Hello Dr. Ermeling,

     I am a teacher and university student who is
participating in Collaborative Inquiry, a masters program
at Queens University. I am working to understand the
complexities of collaboration and how it can benefit
teaching practises and ultimately student learning. I am
especially interested in the aspect of creating safe
spaces, in which English Language Learners can feel
comfortable having the collaborative conversations that
illicit critical thinking. I found your article Moving the
Learning of Teaching Closer to Practice:Teacher Education
Implications of School-based Inquiry Teams quite
insightful. I wondered if the example you used regarding
the district expert could be likened to providing “safe
spaces” in the sense that students need both conventional
training in lets say tolerance but also need a stable
inquiry and learning setting in which to convert that
knowledge into practices.
     So first, I am wondering if you feel the structure for
creating cultural and social/emotional supports for
students to engage in inquiry would be the same as those
you have outlined for teachers? Do you feel that in order
for this to be successful that the whole school needs to be
involved or do you think that a specific department might
be able to “plant the seeds” so to speak? For example, what
if we establish safe spaces in our schools for complex
discussions to occur and the students don't adhere to the
structure of keeping dialogue within these safe spaces and
it spills into the larger school culture or communities? Do
you think that these spaces can happen without the support
of administration and the larger education systems?
     I am aware this is an encompassing topic that will
require some thought. However, I am reaching out to those
like yourself in hopes to start conversations that will
contribute to my understanding in hopes to deepen my
education practises. Thank you so much for considering my
questions and contributing any thoughts and wisdom you
might have in regard to my professional inquiry.

Sincere Regards,
Jennifer Crosson
Department Head of Learning Support
Frank Hurt Secondary School

Student in
Professional Masters Education
Queens University