focus on the learner: acquiring & utilizing student...
TRANSCRIPT
Focus on the Learner: Acquiring & Utilizing Student Voice
Dr. Mark KnightMs. Elaine Smith
Overview of Our Session
• A Bit of Background
• Focus on Designing Engaging Student Work
• Whoops…Maybe We Should Ask Our Customers
• Fife High School leads the way…
• …and the rest are following!
• Q and A
Fife Public Schools
Fife School District
3550 Students in 7 Schools 1 Primary School (K-1)
2 Intermediate Schools (2-5)1 Middle School (6-7)
1 Junior High School (8-9)1 High School (10-12)1 Alternative School
45% Free/Reduced Lunch
2%
9%2%
11%
4%
13%59%
Student Population
Amer. Ind.
Asian
Pac. Island.
As./Pac. Isl.
Black
Hispanic
White
To produce work that is engaging to students…
• Work that is so compelling that students persist when they experience difficulties.
• Work that is so challenging that students have a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when they
accomplish the tasks assigned.
Working Definitions
Student VoiceStudent voice is the opportunity for young people
in the school system to provide their input into issues concerning their education
EngagementA psychological investment in learning,
comprehending, or mastering knowledge, skills, and crafts • Beyond compliance
• Beyond motivation
Identify HTT/DTL Concepts
• MSP/HSPE Data• Classroom Data• Anecdotal Records• Patterns over time
Plan
Design•Knowing the Customer•Using Design Qualities•Developing Measures
Implement
Measure Engagement
MeasureAchievement
Analyze
Redesign
Design Steps© Schlechty Center and Fife Public Schools
Fife School District Design Cycle
WOW Academy Classroom
Planning Time/Dept Meetings
Planning Time/Dept Meetings
Fife High School
The Beginning of the JourneyFife High School – Changing Demographics
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1998-99
2009-10
Students and Staff Solving Problems
Diversity Summit – 5 Students/2 Staff Members
Fishbowl Activity with Staff – Adult facilitator/5 Students
Faculty Meeting w/Students – Selection of issue to attack
C4D – “Virtual Assembly”
Video - Words That Hurt
Listening to Students
Staff Summer Retreat – An introduction to student voice – “Abe, Gabe, and Babe”
Study of Focus Groups – Formation, questioning, data gathering
Conducting Focus Groups –Additional step in the C4D process
Identify HTT/DTL Concepts
• MSP/HSPE Data• Classroom Data• Anecdotal Records• Patterns over time
Plan
Design•Knowing the Customer•Using Design Qualities•Developing Measures
Implement
Measure Engagement
MeasureAchievement
Analyze
Redesign
Design Steps© Schlechty Center and Fife Public Schools
Fife School District Design Cycle
WOW Academy Classroom
Planning Time/Dept Meetings
Planning Time/Dept Meetings
Essential Learnings
Focus Group Preparation – Questioning and student selection
Changing Perspectives – Teacher as learner/Student as teacher
Empowerment – Student as active participant in the design process
Concepts – Gaining clarity
How Things Have Changed
Alignment – Common concepts/Common assessments
Strategies – Proven techniques to assist diverse learners
Student to Student – ASB focus
Diversity Club – Changing the Culture
Junior High Examples
Staff Retreat Student Focus Group
Meeting w/ Principal Nelson prior to their focus group participation
Student Focus Groups at Staff Retreat
End of Unit Feedback
Mr. Hannah w/ DigiTools Students
Mr. Hannah w/ DigiTools Parents
Elementary Examples
“On a Mission to Listen”
Gly
ph
s
Wri
tin
g P
rom
pts
Literature Informing the Work
• Alcoff, Linda – Speaking for others
• Cook-Sather, Allison – Student perspectives
on education in a changing society
• Fielding, Michael – UK students as
researchers
• Levin, Benjamin – Manitoba School
Improvement Project
• Mitra, Dana – Student Forum and the Bay Area
School Reform Collective; Youth Development Assets
• Smyth, John – Learner Centered Policy
Constellation
Student Voice
Engagement
• Appleton & Furlong – Cyclical relations relate to levels of engagement
• Brewster & Fager – Increasing student engagement and motivation
• Kohn, Alfie – Student centered education
• Newmann, F. – Engagement as a psychological investment
• Schlechty, Phillip – Theory of engagement and roles definition to support engagement
• Yazzie-Mintz, Ethan – High School Survey of Student Engagement
Contact Information
Dr. Mark Knight
Principal, Fife High School
Elaine Smith
WOW Coordinator