|
|
| Help Us Help Ourselves: Developing Supportive Learning Environments with Students |
 PRINTABLE VERSION |
Practical Applications
The classroom offers a foundation throughout the educational experience that other forms of meaningful student involvement should stand upon and build from. Schools must be committed to meaningful student involvement as a practice, and then allow educators and students to create the ways of infusing the idea throughout school. In the earliest grades students might be rule-makers and experience self-determination in learning; towards the end of their high school years classrooms can be solely for reflection on real-world experience. Here are some meaningful ways to involve students in the classroom.
Self-directed student learning. The idea of students leading their in-class learning is not new, and many models have been created to encourage student autonomy and partnered guidance from teachers. Whether working alone or in small groups, students are given an outcome to work towards by teachers. The method by which they get to that outcome is not prescribed.
Applied learning in all courses. With the hands-on, practical application of classroom lessons and curricula in school-based decision-making, students engaged in research, planning, instruction, and evaluation will have an investment in their learning that is unparalleled throughout much of their early lives.
Student-led parent-teacher conferences. Although the format varies, the concept of student-led conferences remains the same from school to school: the student is in charge of the academic conference with parents, and works with the teacher to present their academic learning.
Students evaluating teachers, classes and schools. This practice, when appropriately applied to a classroom, acknowledges student voice while providing a useful measure from which teachers can grow. Students are in the unique position to rate their own increase in knowledge, as well as changed motivation.
Students teaching students. While much has been said about cross-age tutoring and mentoring, few schools have pursued the idea of students as teachers. The Summerbridge Program has explored this concept in summer school settings, and exclaim that these programs help close the achievement gap, provide powerful role models to children of color, emphasize reciprocal investment in schools, and demonstrates the rewards and challenges of teaching to the young teachers.
Students designing curriculum. The Learning-Centered Curriculum-Making Project has helped hundreds of students make learning experiences more cohesive and purposeful. When the curriculum was completed, and the course taught, teachers found that all students answered the guiding questions and successfully completed their self-prescribed activities.
The role of meaningful student involvement in educational decision-making is not merely a question of whether or not to organize a democratic school, although many traits are similar. So where are there opportunities for meaningful student involvement in educational leadership?
Students as Grant Administrators. While it might seem like a far-fetched idea in schools many schools, districts, and state education agencies that are modifying it and reporting good results. One administrator with a student grant reader recently said, “Having a student involved helps reminds adults why we’re doing the work, and it keeps us focused on that. The students also help us think in new ways that we might not have without them.”
Students as researchers. Many classroom teachers have adopted participatory action research, or PAR, methods in their curriculum to great success. In PAR students examine problems that they are affected by, either as perpetuators or recipients. This way they able to voice their concerns over problems such as school effectiveness, intimidation by other students, and making the curriculum more interesting.
Students as school board members. In Anne Arundel County, Maryland students serve as full members of the Board of Education and sit on every advisory, curriculum, study committee and task force in the district. There are student-led focus groups, forums and other school-wide activities to regularly solicit student voice. Throughout 25 years of Anne Arundel County’s student involvement efforts, students have saved the district thousands of dollars through their innovative thinking, and have regularly improved the entire school district.
Conclusion
With the student firmly placed in the role of community member and learner, educators can see the importance of applied and contextual teaching methods. By introducing students to real-world decision-making opportunities, students will begin to understand the vital importance of their education in a community context, one that will reaffirm the significance of schools.
Resources
Throughout the United States there are several organizations working towards actively involving students in education reform efforts.
What Kids Can Do http://www.whatkidscando.org/
|
Tags
You must be logged in to add tags.
|
Writer Profile
Adam Fletcher
This user has not written anything in his panorama profile yet.
|
Comments
You must be a TakingITGlobal member to post a comment. Sign up for free or login.
|
|
