A.P.P.L.E.

Lietuviškai

Focus group directives

          Whether consciously or not, we've developed a cycle in preparation for our summer in-service seminars.  We look at the previous summer's evaluation forms (not a terrific source of new and creative ideas), we get a few word of mouth suggestions and publish a "Call for proposals" in the Fall.  We wait to see what we get by January 1st and then we put together a program.  Some recruiting goes on (thanks to Shirley and others) and then in the Spring we invite certain people to become strand coordinators.  While we've been making a valiant effort to respond to Lithuania's educational needs, I think the system described above is not condusive to what I think would be the ideal situation--A.P.P.L.E. responding to the direct and specific requests of Lithuanian educators.

         Therefore I'm proposing that we create a dozen or so "focus groups" --one for each of the areas in which we work in Lithuania (ex. Science, Language Arts, Social Work, Administration, Music, etc.).  These groups of 5-7 Lithuanian educators would be people who have worked with A.P.P.L.E or attended our seminars for a couple of years and who know our strengths, limitations and capabilities.  I'm sure they're just as busy as we are and would be wary of taking on a job requiring a great deal of commitment, so I envision that we could ask them to do the following over the course of the following year:
    1. To meet for a few hours some time before November 1st and answer a dozen or so questions which we would provide.  Essentially we would like them to propose specific topics and lectures for the next year in their particular subject area and to identify the areas of greatest need as they see it.
    2. Once our program is in place for the following summer, to correspond with our specialists (we would provide the translation services) and answer any questions that we might have regarding that particular subject area.  I can't imagine more than 3 or 4 letters back and forth.
    3.  To prepare a 5-6 page document (which we would have translated into English) describing the current programs, curriculum, problems, accomplishments etc. in that subject area.  This should be done by the Spring so that we could have it ready for distribution before our lecturers depart for Lithuania.
 

         Division chairs.  In the past, we have not had anyone formally overseeing our various subject areas throughout the year.  Strand coordinators were invited in the Spring only after the decision had been made to offer in-service in that area.  Another one of our shortcomings: a lot of our decision making has been too centralized regarding the selection of faculty and the curriculum of our in-services.  Therefore, on this side of the Atlantic, I'd like to have  division chairs for each area.  This division chairperson would not necessarily have to make a commitment to go to Lithuania the following summer, but would agree to supply expertise in their particular area.  Again, I want to assure those that agree to take on the job that I'm not asking for a great deal of time.  Here's a general idea of a division chair's jobs:
        1. Upon receiving resumes and proposals from prospective lecturers, we would send copies to the division chair who could give us a better idea of the quality of the proposals and the background of the applicants.  The chair could help Shirley Sabo(our director of personnel and recruiting) screen the applicants.
        2. Upon receipt of the minutes of the focus group's meeting, the division chair could make recommendations for the following summer's in-serivce seminar curriculum as well as suggest prospective faculty members.  Since we would have more specific requests from Lithuania via the focus groups, we would have a better idea of who we need to recruit.
        3. Over the years we have lost contact with a lot of good lecturers.  I'm sure some would like to come back, but need the nudge from us.  I suspect  some feel that they are not wanted back because we haven't contacted them specifically.  That's usually not true.  It would be great if each division chair could write one "mini-newsletter" to be sent to A.P.P.L.E. members and past lecturers who are associated with that particular subject area.  This could simply be a 2-3 page letter, describing what A.P.P.L.E. has done in this area (in greater detail than we do in the general newsletter since it's for "insiders").  Some recipients might decide to come back as lecturerers, others might want to donate materials, others might make suggestions and refer us to other potential A.P.P.L.E. members and lecturers.  (Of course, we need to rework our data base so we could provide such lists to our division chairs, and we're working on that.)  Just lately, for example, Vaiva asked for materials on the requirements for American school principals.  If we had this system in place, I could have contacted the Admin. division chair who could request such materials from his/her list of admin. people.  (Thanks, by the way, to all who responded to that particular request.)
        4. The division chair would correspond with Lithuania, i.e. the focus group or other area specialists.  Just a few letters back and forth with translations provided when necessary.
        5. And finally, briefing and assisting the strand coordinators going to Lithuania (if it's not the same person).