Cultivating Student Voice in a Digital Platform
Dr. Jennifer Wheat Townsend and Shelley BethelYou Said What? Virtual Learning!?!?!?
It’s hard to believe that a year ago we were teaching ALL of our students in person. A year ago we had no idea how the Pandemic would rock our worlds. A year ago we were going about our business of teaching and learning, moving throughout the day in ways that we had done in the past. Then everything changed. We thought we’d be back in school after spring break. When that didn’t happen, we thought May. Then the announcement that students will remain in virtual learning until the end of the year. Everyone quickly made adjustments to what life looked like and conquered the end of the school year.It’s Not This Or That…
Since last Spring comments have been made that in person learning is what is best for kids and that virtual learning is not good for kids social and emotional well being. Thinking in binaries like this, one way is better than the other, does not serve all children, it serves some. Thinking that it is either THIS or THAT causes friction in the beauty of what can be if we lean into the work that is happening. Many learners have succeeded in a virtual learning environment - yet just like the classroom that success stems from a well designed learning environment and focus on engagement and relationship building in a virtual environment. Of course, there are some students who need to be in person yet some are thriving online as teachers work to create a space that fills the void of “not being connected” - teachers work to create a space for kids to have a voice in their virtual classroom and be connected to one another. Here are just a few ways that our online teachers are making this happen:Giving Room for Student Voice in the Virtual Classroom
Our newest member to our online team, Kindergarten teacher Ryan Christopher, finishes up his morning meeting via zoom and asks kids to bring something to share that is made of wood. After kids share, he invites students to stay on longer if they want before small groups start. He asks students to bring a favorite stuffed animal or real animal to the screen. One student is hungry so he reminds him that he can eat while they are sharing. Another student then asks, can we have a lunch bunch - you know where we just get together and talk and eat? Mr. Christopher says - yes we can make that happen. We’ll start next week. This student heard of others doing this and requested it. Online teachers have carved out time for kids to get together to just chat and enjoy one another like they would at school during lunch or recess. This is important for students’ social and emotional health.Second grade online teacher and instructional coach, Gina Weaver had been doing lunch bunch each week and one day a student said they didn’t have food. She worked with the home school to check into this right away, yet that made her wonder if she wanted to call it “lunch bunch.” She recognized that not everyone is eating during this time - including herself. So she asked her class what they wanted to name their time together. They named it “The Weaver Bunch.” Her class was given a voice in naming an important part of their day, which in turn gives them ownership in the schedule.
Fifth grade online teacher Susanne Hanks who ventured from first grade to fifth grade wanted to put the students’ voice at the center of all that she did. Therefore, she works to set class goals each week with their help in order to increase engagement in the work. If they meet their goal that is set they receive something for their efforts. This past week they received an iMovie exploration day where they submitted the iMovie, text, or audio describing things they learned about the app and then shared in small group time. This transitioned into wrapping up their argument and advocacy writing work where they are now using iMovie to make a PSA video on the debatable topics that they chose and researched. So much student voice here!
Additionally, Susanne has an optional creative planning group that kids can attend. This group helps plan for ways to make learning more engaging and give additional ideas for online learning opportunities. When I listened into their conversation, it was evident they are engaged in learning and they had great ideas for ways to make more time for reading longer (one suggested they stay on zoom longer for reading), writing more, and just having fun together by using tools such as Kahoot.
Second grade online teacher and library media specialist, Jessica Aldrich, shared several ways that she works to incorporate student voice in her classroom:
- Students in their reading clubs pick their book club books on MyON for the series book club unit
- Students are given time to be in breakout rooms to just be social after whole group zoom sessions. She pops in and out of groups to check in
- Student ideas and interests are incorporated into instruction
- Students host their own book club conversations with parent support on weekends
- Students chose their research project
Digital Tools: Online, Yes! In-Person, Yes!
Both online and in person learning and teaching can utilize various tools to lift up and use student voice in the classroom. Some tools that help do this are:- Canvas Discussions
- Flipgrid
- Zoom/Google Meet Sessions
- Chat feature
- Video Recordings
- Padlet (great for Wonder Wall)
- Personalize online or in person space
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