In this article, Novadene Miller. PhD considers the opportunities for learning and collaboration between students and the senior leaders within their school.
As educators we play a vital role in developing the Approaches to Teaching and Learning skills ( ATL) of students. Several opportunities exist to cultivate this during peer workshop learning, as well as learning tasks mobilized by the teacher as the student goes through vertical learning in the curriculum being studied.
Like a symphony in a band, being led by the conductor, the teacher creates an environment for a change in the sound, and by extension the ideas that flows within the classroom and beyond. The teacher, like the conductor of a symphony can invite individuals in the classroom to shape, accentuate and nurture the thoughts of students, as they navigate the global issues, discourse and dichotomy of thoughts that dominate our society. Students have the vast opportunity to be changemakers, in their community, country that can cause ripples across the world by the effect of one.
Invite leaders of the school to collaborate and navigate global and local perspectives in the classroom
It is fundamental for students to dialogue with leadership of the school. Leadership represents the vision, mission, direction and cultivation of the tapestry of values and ideas of the school community. It is crucial for different generations of thought and ideas to discuss together to transfer, build and cultivate continuity of that community.
In the institution I currently work in, I invited the IB coordinator to dialogue with students in year 12 in International Baccalaureate. The students asked questions they created, they decided on as peers, and were delighted and challenged by the global discourse which ensued. Opportunities exist such as International Days, including the International Day of Women to open the classroom to leaders in order to give students a first-hand insight into their journey and what it takes to be a leader, the tenets that have been pivotal in them mobilizing change and the trails they have blazed which are at times identical with their own journey at the stage of their academic journey.
Later students have referred to this conversation and used these stories to pattern their own approach and attitude in how they will navigate their own IB journey. Similarly, the director of primary school, came for International Day of Men. This was an interactive, engaged dialogue with students in lower school, year 9. Again, this generated discourse, ad dialogue both among themselves as peers and with the invited guest. The primary school director navigated dialogue on fundamental issue influencing our society. These conversations are important as students filter the overwhelming information available at their fingertips that by extension shape their perspectives for today and the future. Engaging with leaders can enhance Social, Self-Management, Research , communication and Thinking skills which are fundamental in ATLK skill development
Create and build a classroom that fosters dialogue to develop critical thinking and encourage peer workshop learning
It is also crucial for students to discourse among themselves on issues, perspectives, policies, measures and solutions that cross the globe, both at a global scale and at a local scale in parallel with acknowledging the unique individuality of each involved.
As mentioned in my previous article Thinking Routine tasks such as Think Pair Share, Compass point, See Think Wonder, Color Symbol Image, and Think Puzzle Explore to mention a few provide opportunities for students to deepen thinking within a structured framework.
When was the last time you invited a leader from your school in your classroom?
What Kind of Thinking Routine task do you engage your students in?
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