In the early days of exploration, as we watched students work with the materials and resources to investigate their own curiosities and interests, we were so impressed and excited about what we were observing. For sure, we were impressed by the topics and content they were were uncovering but what we noticed increasingly more as the days passed, was the skills they were developing and demonstrating.
Our observations included examples of how students asked each other questions for support or clarification, how they were collaborating to explore a mutual curiosity, they were working together to solve problems when faced with challenges and how they were naturally engaging in small group discussions about items of interest to them.
Likewise, our observation notes included examples of instances where students were not using these skills and could perhaps use some support in these areas to increase the benefits of their learning time.
Again, we wanted the students to understand that, just as importantly as the content they were learning, was the skills they were developing and the person they were becoming because of this learning and these skills. This was a perfect time to re-examine the content of our reflection conversations. These discussions needed to not only focus on the question, "What am I learning?" but also "WHO AM I BECOMING?" Our Catholic Graduate Expectations supported these conversations. We spent some time re-introducing these to the students and created a bulletin board as an anchor for these conversations. These reflections were planned and deliberate because, again, we realized the importance of taking them time for them. These are life skills for our students...the time is worth it.
A video we created and shared with the students to help guide the discussion for
"Who Am I Becoming?"
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| The original bulletin board to support this conversation. Later, this becomes a co-constructed bulletin board. |
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