I’m at the stage in the Cohort 21 process at which I feel a little stuck. Maybe this is just the common experience of Cohort people, but if I a perfectly honest, I am feeling discouraged.
On a Twitter chat, I shared my how might we statement with the Cohort community. It was well-received, resulting in some tweets celebrating the idea for the project itself, and others offering wonderful resources. However, as much as I appreciate this reception, I am still wondering if this question is good enough.
Even so, I think I’m asking an important one.
How might we foster real, brave conversations between students and teachers that lead to real changes within a high-performance, high-output environment?
This question needs to be asked, but so many things come to mind that make me doubt it.
Aren’t we already asking this?
Are you essentially trying to be a psychotherapist? (No!)
Hasn’t this been done before?
Aren’t there already so many resources that answer this question?
However, even though these questions bombard my mind, I still think we need to keep asking this. See, no matter how many programs we put in place or how many wonderful people we have leading the way here, we have to keep asking this. We need to keep pushing to be better at this, no matter who we are or who has done groundbreaking things here. No matter how much research exists and how many programs have been devised.
Yes, we need to keep looking to the great work that has been done. We are not looking to reinvent the wheel here. We are not sacrificing good, sound practices on the altar of innovation. We just need to keep being better at this.
The problem is, where do I start?
I started by making some quiet observations on how students behave in one-on-one conversations with me as we worked on refining writing assignments.
Stay tuned!
Also, here is a recent blog entry by Anne-Marie Kee, Headmaster of Lakefield College. I feel it relates very much to your post: https://annemariekee.wordpress.com/2020/01/04/the-education-reform-most-needed-for-the-new-decade/
@eoboyle
Your question “How might we foster real, brave conversations between students and teachers that lead to real changes within a high-performance, high-output environment?” is a great reminder of where you left off at the last face to face but it does not have to be where you end.
My first question back to you is WHY are you asking it?
Are teachers not being honest with their feedback because of some sort of fear? If so what is that fear?
Are students (right now) not equipped to participate in “honest conversation” If so what skills do they need in order to be able to do so?
The first question requires you to look at “HOW” you are giving feedback, the language you are using and the framework you are working in. It is a coaching questions as much as it is about assessment and feedback. Both are AWESOME places to explore as over the next four months. HUGE strides have been made in these areas. Just ask @ddoucet and @gnichols
my second question is all about “Building Mindset”. Do you students have the kind of mindset that is required to have “honest conversations” about them as learners? Should all conversations be the same or do we differentiate based on “who” we are talking to and the relationship we have? So many rich ideas and research to explore in this area as well.
You have lots of choice here. All of them more than “good enough” to be worthy of your time and attention.
The question back to you is what question (when you read it back to yourself) excites you so much that will make time to answer it 🙂
See you next Friday!