Empowered through Ownership ….. “making it your own”
In a Messenger article last year, you may recall I highlighted that the university dropout rate for first year students at the time was 30%. A large factor at play here is the practice of ‘spoon feeding’ in schools, filling students with knowledge to regurgitate in a test, but not equipping them adequately to be independent and responsible for their own learning.
While growing student independence and ownership is a progressive exercise (and one that needs to be carefully guided and supported by teachers and parents), research is clear on the long term positive impact of students taking greater responsibility for their learning.
“Encouraging students to be partners in their own learning increases agency (ownership and responsibility) and achievement, and creates positive long-term learning habits. It also builds student engagement with schooling, which is associated with positive outcomes in most facets of life.” Gonski Report 2018
For the first time at Mosman Prep, we will be introducing Student Led Conferences for students in Year 2 to Year 6, commencing next week. Student Led Conferences, goal setting, self-assessment and reflection provide powerful opportunities to develop ownership. In fact, research shows that students who set and monitor personal goals alone, may perform 18–41% higher on assessments than students without goals.
As I mentioned in the communication sent earlier this week, during Student Led Conferences, Students will guide their parents through the conference, sharing work they are proud of and communicating their learning goals. These goals, including a social goal, will be in areas of student growth that have been identified in collaboration with their classroom teacher. The classroom teacher will further support the student, by discussing their achievement in the main curriculum areas, as well as their social and emotional development.
Motivation is related to whether or not students have opportunities to be autonomous and to make important academic choices. Having choices allows children to feel empowered that they have control or ownership over their own learning. This, in turn, helps them develop a sense of responsibility and self-motivation.
How can parents help?
At home seek opportunities for your children to:
• ask questions
• self-monitor their progress through reflection
• see mistakes as learning opportunities and for controlling the related negative emotions
• define their personal learning goals and objectives
• use self-reward strategies (eg. doing a favourite activity if they can accomplish their learning goals on time).
When students understand their role as agent (the one in charge) over their own feelings, thinking and learning behaviours, they are more likely to take responsibility for their learning. This in turn will lead to greater achievement, motivation and satisfaction, both now and into the future.
Peter Grimes | Headmaster
References:
Review to achieve educational excellence in Australian Schools - Gonski Report 2018.
Link - dese/through-growth-achievement-report-review-achieve-educational-excellence-australian-schools
Deeper Learning: Highlighting Student Work - Ron Berger 2013.
Link - Edutopia/deeper-learning-student-work-ron-berger
Link - katielmartin/why-an-authentic-audience-matters
Developing Responsible and Autonomous Learners: A Key to Motivating Students.
Link - apa/education-career/k12/learners
Inspiring Student Ownership of Learning is a Critical Part of COVID-19 Recovery (2021).
Link - edublog/inspiring-student-ownership-learning-critical-part-COVID-19-recovery
