ABSTRACT
Pilot studies give classroom researchers a chance to test out or more closely examine ideas on a smaller scale and perhaps within a smaller context or within a smaller scope. For a classroom research project, a departmental research project, a curriculum restructuring project or a project that may become larger and increased in scope, pilot studies can help as a “trial run” or a “tryout” to see what some of the potential challenges and pitfalls might be. The habit of keeping a teaching journal is no different—it takes time, consistency and commitment to form. Diana Garvin was teaching an intermediate Italian course, and wanted to examine the context of that course and particular elements within that course using multiple sources of evidence. The three students in this pilot study had various weekly and pop-up commitments, including: athletic practice, job interviews, class meetings, class assignments, work commitments, hosting prospective students, and family visits.
