Questioning the Power of Student Voice

Student driven learning. Student's such as Kate Simonds are well aware of the lack of student voice in the education system. In her Ted Talk "I'm 17" shes states as students "we have no say in what we learn or how we learn it, yet we're expected to absorb it all, take it all in, and be able to run the world someday." Due to students having a lack in what they learn students feel no confidence or unwilling to answer question in the classroom. This is a BIG problem. 

I look forward to teaching agriculture as it provides such a unique aspect to education where students are given a voice, and their ideas are utilized to ensure the content is being absorbed. Students in agricultural programs gain the confidence in deciding what they learn, which in-turn makes classroom engagement that much higher. Classroom engagement can look many different ways but one simple way to keep students engaged is through questions. 

Cornell University, Center for Teaching Innovation provided a great resource for Using Effective Questions. After reviewing this resource here is how I plant incorporate effective questions into my classroom to ensure students have a voice and stay engaged.

I will ask questions that provoke thinking. This doesn't mean I am always looking for an answer but I want students to create a deeper meaning for content beyond what it being taught in the classroom.

I will ask questions to ensure students to ensure students are gaining the knowledge being taught. It's important to me to know that my students are absorbing the content before moving on to the next section. 

I will always ask questions of reflection to end a class. Reflective questions require students to recall what they learned in order to make a connection of why they learned that content.   

I will always be open to questions from my students. I want each of my students to feel confident to ask questions on any given content.

Question are important. Questions are essential. Questions are a learning tool. Questions give students a voice.  Students should always feel that their questions are valued and accepted and I look forward to incorporating them into my future classroom.

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Check out Kate Simonds Ted Talk. 
Also, check out the work that One Stone is providing students. 


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Cornell University Center for Teaching Excellence. (2015). Using Effective Questions. Retrieved from http://www.cte.cornell.edu/teaching-ideas/engaging-students/using-effective-questions.html (Links to an external site.)
Links to an external site.

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