Invitation - The beginning

This was the start of U:SOAR

14 August 2006

Dear Colleagues
An Interest Group (IG) was formed following on the workshop on action learning and action research that was presented by Professors McNiff and Whitehead in February/March 2006.

The group is known as the U:SOAR group:
U: each individual member
S: sharing
O: our
A: action
R: research (experiences)

As a whole, the acronym suggests that one goes higher (i.e. "soars" in knowledge and interest) each time one takes up a seat at the Monday afternoon "reflective space" discussions.

After our second get-together, we decided to manage the IG in a journal-club style. As "coordinator" of the IG, I took the first turn at our last meeting on 31 July by discussing the inter-dependency between action learning and action research and also the reason why action enquiry is a good umbrella term to use for referring to the myriad of strategies, methods and techniques embraced by ALAR.

At our next meeting on 4 September, Professor Annette Wilkinson from SOSHO will speak on the different ALAR models that may be employed to structure action research projects.

Professor Yvonne Bothma has indicated that she would wish to speak on validity and reliability issues in AR at one of our future meetings. Others who have already volunteerd to speak, are Dr Arlys van Wyk (Dept. English) and Dr Hesta Friedrich-Nel (School of Health Technology, CUT).

With the expert help of Mr Alwyn Hugo, a website for U:SOAR is also on the cards.

Hereby I wish to extend an invitation to all academic staff members in the Faculty of Health Sciences to join the U:SOAR IG. Bring your coffee mug and come and join us!
When: Monday, 4 September at 16h30
Where: Seminar Room A112, Division of Student Learning Development, Faculty of Health Sciences.

Looking forward to seeing you.
ADRI BEYLEFELD