Writing and Learner Persistence

Good Day!

Last week, the Teaching and Learning community had an interesting discussion about learner persistence.  This made me think about how we can use language arts techniques to keep students in class. 

One thing that keeps students attending is when they feel they are a vital part of class.  Part of fostering this feeling is to value student input on how classes run.  Instead of waiting for official teacher evaluations at semesters’ end, here are two classic writing techniques that give students an immediate voice:

1.  Regularly ask students for feedback about what and how they are learning.  Let students know you value their suggestions.  Get this feedback by asking students:

  • What am I doing that helps you learn?
  • What can I do to help you learn more? 

2.  “I wish my teacher knew . . . “   Have students respond to this writing prompt anonymously, perhaps by creating a Jamboard or using a Padlet wall.  The more we know about our students, the more we can create inclusive environments that meet their learning needs.

How do you give students a voice in class?

Thanks for your thoughts,

Steve Schmidt, Moderator

LINCS Reading and Writing Community

Comments

I have given students' a voice in the class by allowing them to create brochures that reflected their interests that translated from the topic they were learning.  For example some ladies liked to keep the nails manicured, so I asked them to develop a how to brochure in giving a manicure.