Visibility
Much of teaching involves manipulating behavior. This video on TED is worth checking out, though the best line may be:
Change comes from “making the invisible, visible.”
How do we make the consequences of student behavior visible?
Much of teaching involves manipulating behavior. This video on TED is worth checking out, though the best line may be:
Change comes from “making the invisible, visible.”
How do we make the consequences of student behavior visible?
January 26th, 2009 at 3:27 am
Teachers have an obligation to be explicit in exploring both the positive and the negative behaviors that we see happening in class. We must get beyond the simple reaction to a behavior and instead actually talk about what is happening. It can be difficult and awkward for students. At first they may not be able to even figure out what is happening. But over time, students will begin to engage in the megacognitive process of thinking about their behavior and why it is that they do what it is they do. Only then can they begin to modify their behavior in a meaningful way. Until then, its all about externally motivated student responses, with teachers shaping student behavior in the classroom, only to watch student behavior change dramatically as they move from class to class throughout the day.
Consequences – keep them to a minimum. Guided discussion about what is happening? Open the gates and let it roll.