Student action can be so incredibly inspiring or it can slip past with no attention at all.
The challenge as a teacher is multifold. Should I know about student action? Should a student tell me about it? Should someone else be informing me? Should we expect a student to take action? Should students do 'it' independently? Should it make a difference? Lots of 'shoulds' but in the end; Is it about the teacher or the student? The IBPYP Making the PYP Happen (pg25) says: "An explicit expectation of the PYP is that successful inquiry will lead to responsible action, initiated by the student as a result of the learning process. This action will extend the student’s learning, or it may have a wider social impact. . ." It is always an interesting conversation when the concept of action is raised. I think that action is about student ownership of learning, it is taking the knowing and understanding and going further with it, for themselves, because it interests them, they are curious or have a natural connection to the learning. If engaging students is providing opportunities for them to connect, see possibilities, have choice and voice then the next step of really empowering students needs to link closely with purpose and ownership to enable a deep connection and on going learning. As a teacher I get excited when students share their thinking and the connections they make to their 'school based learning' and their 'home or outside based learning' and when the two facets of learning connect then it really is very satisfying, the challenge is giving students space and time to be able to take their learning to a new place. The challenge now for me is to create learning spaces and engagements that inspire thinking and encourage students to be empowered to take their learning further, to see the connections themselves and to make them work for them as they continue to learn and grow. Comments are closed.
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AuthorTeaching in an IBPYP school; interests: student agency, technology integration, growth mindset & the continuous cycle of improvement that is the world of education, learning and being! Archives
June 2018
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