As previously blogged about, Ako Orewa is striving for students to be able to identify and explain why they are learning what they're learning. For students to become advocates for their own learning, rather than the teacher. Last year, some feedback on observations I got, was the lack of exit strategies within my lessons. My previous HOD suggested to think about some ways I could debrief the lesson, or small strategies to determine whether students can explain the lesson objectives, and whether they met the learning intentions. Therefore, I have decided to focus on exit strategies for my teaching inquiry.
I am teaching Year 12 Health for the first time this year, learning and teaching lots of new ideas and concepts. By integrating exit strategies, or closure tasks, at the end of some lessons, this would be great feedback for me to determine how the lessons are going, and where I may need to make alterations for future. The strategies may also support the growth of learner agency, as students may be able to identify and explain the learning intentions of the lesson, the pathway the learning is heading, and possibly encourage students to identify what they still need to learn.
From an initial Google Search, I have already found a few ideas online (e.g. 22 Powerful Closures, Entry & Exit Cards, and 10 Smart Tools for Digital Exit Slips). But, if you have any to share, please let me know, as I'm willing to give anything a go to see what works for my students! At this stage I will spend this week researching some different tools and reading some academic literature, then possibly start implementing them next week.
I don't know if this counts as an 'exit' card but sometimes I have "passwords" for students to enter my class! It's usually a definition from the day before, or an explanation of something from the day before in their own words and I let them know it's coming the day before. Then the ones who weren't prepared have to listen as other kids get to enter, and then they can have a go when I reach them at the end of the line. I guess you could do that on the way out too! I like that you're still blogging from Orewa, and it's interesting to read what another school's focus is - the why instead of the what! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool idea, I like that! Thanks for sharing. Will give it a go... once I finally start! My inquiry has definitely been on the backburner as I have been trying to settle into the new job! Focusing on the why has helped me with my planning and where we are going, I hope by the end of the year my students can confidently describe to me the why and the what without prompts :)
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