Student Voice in Education

Many schools would say they really engage students in their own learning and in influencing the direction of the school. It is certainly harder to do than it sounds. One example I do have is from a Year 3 class at Fendalton School led by teachers Rob Clarke and Claire Howison. Check out Team 18 and explore their podcasts and online learning. This learning is done in real time by the children - an every day part of their life at home as well as school. They co-create material, develop their own resources and give and get feedback (from home as well as school). Look on their blog at the Book Sell Feedback as one example of a googledoc survey to get feedback from colleagues.

It just seems so authentic to me... So I am trying to relate it to a five levels of engagement shown below.


I have adapted this model to meet the education environment. It identifies the difference between merely informing students (doing to) and empowering them to do things for themselves. Under what circumstances can you see that the collaboration and empowering levels would be used and how? Check out the following movie You have a message, undertaken by students in Te Awamutu. Think about their messages and get back to me... or check out some other ideas on Community Engagement.