However, our chief aim here is to capture elements of the developmental process and the
synergy between theory and development.
3.1 Process of interpretative analysis drawing on various data sources
The case consists of the inception, preparation and teaching of three lessons at Dronningens
Upper Secondary School by a team of three teachers (Osvald, Kristin and Mari) and
subsequent stages of reflection. Three didacticians (from the team of 12) were principally
involved: Eli, the Project Director, Leo the liaison member for this school and Liv. In
Norway, students in upper secondary school (Grades 11–13) are typically aged 16–19 years.
Teachers at this level are usually well-qualified, generally to masters’ level in their specialist
subject (here mathematics). In the following, translations from the original Norwegian are
marked (T); otherwise the original English is used. Hesitations and undue repetition have
been removed to improve readability. All names (teachers, didacticians and school) are
pseudonyms. The events that contribute to this case occurred over the course of 1 year at the
beginning of the project. The analysis draws on data generated from the point at which
didacticians visit the school to negotiate participation in the project. The final event included
in the case was a meeting of didacticians and teachers at the end of the first year in which
teachers were invited to reflect on their experiences in the project.
3.1.1 Interpretative analysis of data
We outline in this section our analytical process in reaching the narrative accounts that we
present in this article. In all cases, we start from data that relate to the insights we present. We
make interpretations based on this and other data and present an account that aims to make
sense in general and specific terms. We begin by referring to data generated from the first
workshop in which we analyse teacher Osvald’s words. He reported back, in a plenary
session, on the discussion he had with colleagues in a small group at the workshop
concerning a lesson that he and his colleagues hoped to design.
Osvald: [In the small group] we talked about when we shall start up … so we
thought we would plan a topic, a starting point, a topic that we will present to
the pupils. And in contrast to picking out an interesting topic that we shall
teach, we picked out something we thought was boring (laughter). So we
thought we should make a lesson which would make it more exciting and we
thought of something for the lowest grade [three classes at grade 11] in school
and we have linear functions and straight lines that we think was a boring topic
to present. We shall open with this. (T)
Here Osvald is reporting back from the small group discussions that he and his own
school colleagues have had earlier in the workshop. He is aligned with the practice: He
chooses a topic within the syllabus, which his students (pupils) are expected to learn (and
other data reveal that he follows the textbook, he is concerned that students will not be
disadvantaged in their examinations). He is also aware that something might be improved,
and the issue upon which he and his colleagues choose to focus is a topic that is less
interesting to teach and learn.
Issues that we suggest to be considered here (square brackets indicate an increased level
of interpretation) are:
& Focus on the syllabus: what must be taught [established practice].