I took the time yesterday to work out the final task of the first unit with my grade eleven students. I gave only the big idea: an interactive guided tour of a country. They contributed all the criteria and content without difficulty. I did not have to veto any of their suggestions. One student offered a very creative idea to include food preparation as part of the task - a lot of work, but I encouraged her to keep exploring that option. My students had no problem putting together a viable set of expectations. After all, they've had years of experience trying to meet very similar ones! I believe they are still thinking inside the box, based on form and content they are given as standard fare in school. Perhaps if I make this process of involvement my modus operandus, they will begin to think more outside the box, offer more creative, original ways of meeting the expectations.
One more thing: something happened at the emotional level.....the noise level went up, but it was positive energy. There was an air of freedom in the room.
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Interestingly enough, this year we are focused on establishing clear learning intentions and success criteria at the onset of our units and in our daily instruction. I find the democratic/interactive process you have described for the final task to be a good opportunity to determine what they consider successful.
ReplyDeleteAs you wrote, Rob, they are aware of what's needed.
When my class of grade 8s have participated in this process, they have not failed to go further in expecting more of themselves than what I would have asked of them. They in turn get to decide where they are relative to the "box".