Intersections

Intersections Collaborative Forces Wellington 2-4 July 2007 Making a Habit of Thought-full Learning Thinking for Understanding@ Rangi Ruru Judi Hancock Information Services Manager Background Information on RR  Independent  All girls’ school  700 roll  Academically successful  History of GATE Background 2004 Major review of RR Strategic Plan  Focus on future proofing  Project Teams created  Thinking Skills Project team formed with most faculties represented.  Identified Desired Result  The implementation of a school wide programme which empowered staff and students to effectively use flexible thinking strategies to enhance the teaching, learning & understanding already taking place. Identified the essential question  Why change what we are doing if our exam results are already so good? The Short Answer Dealing with a “different kind of girl”  Confirmed by JoAnn Deak & others  Key characteristics staff wanted in students were independence and flexibility  Room to improve on level of understanding vs level of knowing  Pam Hook visit – April 2005 www.hooked-on-thinking.com Positive qualities of a RR girl (lots!)  Less positive…   Not inclined to question  Not inclined to think critically  Not inclined to analyse  Not inclined to independent learning Key Points If school wide, then staff need to value it  Need to involve staff in deciding what is worth having and what is worth doing  Very useful to have a common thinking language  Use underlying values of the school  Gathering data      Big PD push. TT given preference Staff attend Powerful Learning Conference in Auckland (9) Staff attend 1 day seminar in ChCh with Costa, Claxton et al (14) Staff attend Karen Boyes seminar in ChCh (4) Management Team attended International Thinking Conference in Melbourne Conclusion Art Costa’s 16 Habits of Minds came through as something that applied to every subject, every girl and every staff member!  Thinking strategies needed to be highlighted more effectively.  A Habit of Mind? Is about a predisposition, inclination, set of behaviours that a person can choose in approaching a task in life.  Habits of Mind is the work of Dr. Arthur L. Costa, professor emeritus of the California State University. He has identified a total of 16 habits that successful people exhibit as cognitive as well as character traits  16 Habits of Mind         Persisting Managing impulsivity Listening Thinking flexibly Metacognition Accuracy & precision Questioning Applying past knowledge         Clarity & precision Using all senses Creating, imagining, innovating Wonderment & awe Responsible risks Finding humour Thinking interdependently continuous learning Art Costa Visit In half an hour put us 6 mths ahead!  Asked staff what qualities we wanted in our students.   Independence  Flexibility  Ability to understand & transfer knowledge Showed (briefly) how the HoM could help  Met with Thinking Team  Art Costa’s Advice Go slowly with implementation plan  Go for ripple effect through faculties  Values crucial to underpin HoM  Avoid 1 HoM per term scenario (although can see why schools do it)  Develop a school wide vocabulary  Think about how you will sustain it  The Plan No major “launch”  “Building on what we are already doing”  “Part of an ongoing journey…”  Important for staff not to be overwhelmed by yet another new initiative  Key Recommendations to Staff Art Costa’s 16 Habits of Mind be adopted by staff, students and parents and that they be  Linked to the RR values  Supported by appropriate teaching strategies  Adopted voluntarily by staff  RR Values       Respect Aroha eNdeavour Generosity of spirit Integrity Why is it essential to have the HoM underpinned by values? School wide Posters for all the HoM designed and distributed around school and Boarding House  HoM in student handbook  Information in parent newsletter  Language in reports  Faculty focus Each faculty chose 2/3 HoM to focus on  Hn visited each faculty & helped them “unpack” their HoM  a Science student shows persistence she is expected to..  When a Science student shows persistence she is seen to…   When Subject specific posters created Faculty documentation  HoM present in the Faculty documentation? Faculty report? Faculty scheme? Student focus  HoM referred to in  Planning of units of work  Assignments  Evaluations/Learning Logs  Marking schedules Examples – kept in folder in every faculty & added to = evidence         English – Wide Reading. HoM used by characters – how/why/effect Science – match HoM to scientific method Science – identify HoM used by famous scientists Visual Arts – in wording of student assessment (If I had persisted more I could have….) Christian Living – HoM identified for each topic and related to religious/current/relevant issues/individuals Intermediate School – self assessment for learning P.E. – HoM needed to kayak roll successfully SS – HoM employed by world leaders (good and bad) Teaching & Learning Strategies   Focus on questioning – posters, workshop Staff who had been to conferences shared ideas  What to do when don’t know what to do poster  Try 3 then ask me  Jot down ideas before answering questions for “richer” thinking (“metagognitting”)  Expected behaviours in front of book – refer to them when not being met Cont’d        Staff slots in staff meetings “Thinking Tour” of classrooms Thinking Fountain in FirstClass Tapes/conference papers available from me Books catalogued under 001 so easy to find! Goal in staff IRS New staff have session with Hn Key Competencies Rangi decided to follow the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development) key competencies rather than the NZ ones  Involved writing a “Thinking for Understanding” competency  Any difference? Reflective practice – more focused language being observed by RPs  Language coming through in reports  Language coming through in student responses  HoM being applied to co curricular activities as well  Examples of student responses  Persistence in kayak rolling “When attempting the full roll for the first time I couldn’t get up but I kept trying and thinking about technique even when it became frustrating. I eventually did it.” English  Cameron has used some useful Habits of Mind methods to cope with his challenges. One of the Habits of Mind he used is Persistance. He knows what he wants therefore he sticks to it and goes for it….Another habit of mind method he used was thinking flexibly. This is shown when he comes up with a plan to go out with Kat so that he can date Bianca. Thinking flexibly is a good habit of mind to have so that we are trained to think of other solutions if one solution does not work. (Response to Text Yr 10 Exam) Report General Comment  D. has a lot of potential both academically and in her co curricular activities. Curbing her impulsivity and being a little more aware of the needs of others will help her to realise that potential. 2007 Language of Thinking  Each faculty to focus on  Modelling of language in the classroom to create thinking routines  Explanations – direct teaching of terms & concepts  Interactions – expectation that students will use the language of thinking themselves  Feedback – use precise language  Booklet to record ideas. To be shared with other faculties Challenges Ahead Maintaining momentum  Changing habits of a lifetime of staff & students  Making the Habits/new strategies habitual 