!Introduction
This page is for my notes in relation to the overview sections of the [http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areolhome.html|online∞ course] in Action Research from [http://www.scu.edu.au/|Southern∞ Cross University] and the [http://www.actionresearch.net.au/|Southern∞ Cross Institute of Action Research]
!Sources
# [http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro01.html∞ "Orientation materials 1: required commitment"]
# [http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro02.html∞ "Orientation materials 2: overview"]
# [http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro03.html∞ "Orientation materials 3: forming learning groups"]
# [http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro04.html∞ "Orientation materials 4: program overview"]

See also [ActionResearch.ARCourseArchiveDocs "Archive Documents index"]
!Notes
[http://purpleslurple.net/ps.php?theurl=http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro02.html#purp87|Goals|nocache]∞:
What are your personal goals for this areol program?
An answer: ([je])
* A theoretical model to put a context around my project-based learning at work
* Practical tools to help me build in reflective thinking
* An opportunity to see if I can focus on a topic long enough for anything more than a shallow understanding (!)
* An opportunity to practice existing skills

[http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro03.html|Learning∞ Groups|nocache]
Initial learning group has a membership of two - me and [http://blog.zylstra.org/archives/001162.html|Ton|nocache∞]

{BOX(title=>Learning Groups)}The course author [http://purpleslurple.net/ps.php?theurl=http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro03.html#purp302|suggests|nocache∞] that learning groups can help in the following ways:
* draw conceptual insights from your experience, whether areol activities or other experience
* understand better how to apply the areol material in practice.
* providing support and friendship
* helping each other decide how to proceed with your work or your project
* exchanging material relevant to the more specific interests of the learning group
* learning vicariously from one another's experience.
{BOX}
and [http://purpleslurple.net/ps.php?theurl=http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro03.html#purp371|asks|nocache]∞:

What are some of the features of groups you've been in which have been productive and satisfying?

What has hindered productivity and satisfaction?

What can you do, personally, to bring about the positives and reduce the negatives?


and [http://purpleslurple.net/ps.php?theurl=http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/areol/areol-intro03.html#purp620|further|nocache∞]

How will you manage the ~np~[facilitation]~/np~ task?
(for instance, will you give some time to each person who has a project? Or will you deal with all projects at once, but focus on one aspect at a time? Or what?

What are your process goals?
(that is, what climate are you trying to create? As I said earlier, my favoured alternative is to aim for mutual education through a balance of openness and support. However, this is more easily said than done. How will you achieve it? How will you draw people's attention to styles of communication which undermine your chosen climate?)

CategoryActionResearch