For our students to be fully prepared for the demands of the 21st century, teachers today no longer just plan for students to simply master content knowledge, but plan for students to use the knowledge acquired and then apply it to new problems using collaboration, critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
According to Tony Wagner, in the article “Rigor Redefined,” students need to possess the following seven survival skills in order to become lifelong learners, workers, and citizens:
- critical thinking and problem-solving;
- collaboration across networks and leading by influence;
- agility and adaptability;
- initiative and entrepreneurship;
- effective oral and written communication;
- accessing and analyzing information; and
- curiosity and imagination.
He states that students need to master these survival skills to thrive in the new world of work and become productive citizens who contribute to solving some of the most pressing issues we face in the 21st century.
How can I incorporate these skills in my lessons?
This is a question I get asked often in my role as an instructional coach. Powerful student discussions can play a valuable role in meeting this goal. A well-planned discussion can encourage, stimulate, and expand student learning. Classroom discussions occur in classrooms every day, but powerful student discussions that utilize these skills must be purposely planned with student outcomes in mind. When planning for powerful student discussions, it’s helpful to reflect on three questions.
- What do I want students to learn?
- How will students engage in the discussion?
- How will I know students are understanding and reaching the learning outcomes?
What tools are useful when planning these student discussions?
Many teachers use protocols to structure student discussion and have equity in voice. Protocols promote meaningful, efficient communication, problem solving, and collaborative learning. They allow for active listening, reflection, and all voices heard in a group. The School Reform Initiative houses many protocols for educators. Listed below are easily adaptable protocols to use when planning powerful student discussions in classrooms.
Save the Last Word
Save the Last Word is designed to clarify and deepen student thinking about a text. Roles needed are facilitator and time keeper. This protocol is structured in groups where students build on each other’s thinking in rounds. Students listen and summarize to be able to have the last word.
Jigsaw
Jigsaw is designed for shared student learning to occur. This can be used when a lot of learning needs to take place in a short amount of time. Students work collaboratively in both an expert and home group. They become an expert in a particular area or topic and then share their learning with other members in their home groups.
The Four “A”s
The Four “A”s allows students to explore a text deeply, give their opinions, and cite evidence to support their thinking. Roles needed are a facilitator and timekeeper. Students present and discuss their assumptions, agreements, arguments, and aspires/acts in rounds.
Text Rendering
The Text Rendering protocol is designed for students to collaboratively construct meaning, clarify, and expand thinking about a text or document. They each select a sentence, phrase, and word from the text that is significant to them. They discuss their thinking in groups during rounds with roles of a facilitator and a scribe taking notes. A timekeeper can be added to help structure the discussion.
After using the Save the Last Word Protocol, Alyssa Martinez, English teacher at the School of Biomedical Technology on the campus of Southern School of Energy and Sustainability in Durham, NC shared the following statements:
“The protocol, Save the Last Word, enables students to share main ideas, respond to peers, push their thinking, and grow as critical collaborators. Students need tools to help them navigate academic language and challenging discourse. Students need structure to work collaboratively, voice their thoughts, think critically, and problem solve.”
Protocols aid in building skills needed for students to graduate ready for college, careers and life. Students should be reading, thinking, and talking all of the time. Student writing can be added to each to scaffold their thinking and presentation skills.
Bonnie Compton is an instructional coach with NC New Schools/Breakthrough Learning.
