APPENDIX A
Data Collection And Analysis

After completing their exchange program, educators were asked to participate in a focus group and reflect on their exchange experience. A set of questions was developed beforehand to solicit participants' feedback, including what they had learned about the educational system in the host country, the procedures used in the host country's classrooms and how they differed from their own, and the potential applications of their experiences. (Focus group questions appear in Appendices B and C.)

SEDL staff conducted these focus group sessions during June 1996. The teachers from New Mexico were divided into two small groups of six teachers each; this structure allowed individual participants more time to respond. In contrast, only one focus group was conducted for the 12 Nuevo Leon teachers, thus limiting the amount of time for any individual to provide feedback.

Transcripts of the focus groups, along with the participants' journals and their responses to the questionnaires, were analyzed to identify outcomes and potential classroom applications. SEDL staff divided the focus group transcripts according to host country. One staff member began with the focus group transcripts from the U.S. teachers, while another member analyzed the transcripts from the Mexican group. The purpose of these analyses was to identify and code themes or topics that participants most frequently discussed. Once the initial coding was complete, the two staff members read and verified each other's coding of the transcripts. A similar process was used to analyze the questionnaire and journal data.

APPENDIX B
Focus Group Questions
Educator Exchange Program

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the experiences that you have had through the Educator Exchange Program. Each of you has expertise that can benefit those who will participate in future exchanges. Each question posed will give us a clear understanding of what can be done to improve exchange programs, as well as identify strengths of such programs. As we proceed, feel free to add details or return to previous questions if you recall additional information. This session is being videotaped so we can have a record of the meeting. Transcripts of the session will be used for research purposes only.

Expectations

1. When you were selected to participate in the exchange program what did you expect to experience?

2. What did you hope to gain from the experience?

Knowledge

3. What did you know about the schools in Mexico/the United States?

4. How did schools differ from what you thought they would be like?

5. What aspects of Mexican [culture in the U.S.] did you learn about or come to better understand?

Procedure

6. What methods and strategies were implemented in the [exchange] programs in which you participated?

7. How are these different from those you utilize in your classroom?

Analysis

8. How would these methods and strategies be useful for working with your students?

9. In what ways do you see your teaching changing as a result of your experiences down there?

10. In what ways have you or do you plan to share the methods and strategies you learned as a result of participation in the program?

Evaluation

11. Would you be interested in continuing these types of experiences in the future? Why?

12. What would you tell a person considering participation in an exchange program?

APPENDIX C
Entrevista Programa De Intercambio Maestro/Embajador

El propósito de esta sesión es compartir las experiencias que tuvieron en el Programa de Intercambio Maestro/Embajador. Cada uno de ustedes tiene la experiencia que podría beneficiar a aquellos quienes participarán en futuros intercambios. Cada una de las preguntas nos ofrecerá una comprensión más clara acerca de lo que se puede hacer para mejorar los programas de intercambio, e identificará los mejores aspectos de estos programas. Al estar llevando a cabo la sesión, siéntese con libertad de añadir comentarios o de regresar a preguntas anteriores conforme se vayan recordando información adicional. Esta sesión está siendo grabada en video por razones de documentación solamente. La transcripción será utilizada solamente para el propósito de esta investigación.

¿Qué esperaba Ud. lograr de esta experiencia?

¿Qué sabía Ud. acerca de las escuelas en Estados Unidos?

¿Qué diferencias encontró Ud. en estas escuelas respecto a lo que pensaba de ellas?

¿Qué aspectos de la cultura estadounidense conoció o llegó Ud. a comprender mejor?

¿Qué métodos y estrategias fueron implementadas en los programas en que participó Ud.?

¿Qué diferencias encontró en éstas respecto a aquéllas que utiliza en sus clases?

¿Cómo podrían ser útiles éstas al implementarlas Ud. en la enseñanza con sus alumnos?

¿De qué manera cree Ud. que estas experiencias afectarían su metodología de enseñanza?

Si es que lo tiene contemplado, ¿de qué manera piensa compartir con otros estas metodologías y estrategias aprendidas como resultado de su participación en el programa?

¿Le interesaría seguir participando en estas experiencias en el futuro?

¿Qué le recomendaría Ud. a otra persona interesada en participar en un programa de intercambio?

APPENDIX D
New Mexico Questionnaire Teacher Ambassador Exchange Program

The state of New Mexico, USA and Nuevo Leon, Mexico would like your thoughts regarding your recent experience in the Teacher Ambassador Exchange program. These comments will serve to assist in determining the strengths of the work done and also in planning next year's exchange. Please fill in the information below and return to:

Lucila Cervantes Galván Secretaría de Educación Monterrey, Nuevo León

Mary Jean Habermann Bilingual Education New Mexico Department of Education Santa Fe, NM 87501

What have you learned about the education of children in the school you worked in for the teacher exchange?

1. What have you learned about the systems of education in the two states?
   
   
2. What have you learned from the participating teachers that represented your state?
   
   
3. Has this experience been beneficial to you professionally? If so, describe how.
   
   
4. What changes would you recommend in planning the exchange next year?
   
   
5. How might it be expanded?
   
   
6. Are there any anecdotes you would like to share?