focus on the learner: acquiring & utilizing student...

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

mknight@fife.k12.wa.us

Elaine Smith

WOW Coordinator

esmith@fife.k12.wa.us