How do we get students working towards a common goal?
THE SHARED VISION!
Purpose of the Shared Vision: To ensure that all stakeholders are working towards a long term goal.
The shared vision not only builds community but it establishes purpose amongst stakeholders. For students, the shared vision allows them to analyze their true purpose as to the impact of learning the material in the class to their lives.
What is CCSD's Department of Personalized Learning Shared Vision?
What is CCSD's Department of Personalized Learning Shared Vision?
- "We will be a team of innovators who collaborate with communities to elevate student achievement through personalized learning."
- This shared vision was created by the Department of Personalized Learning.
- A classroom may choose to create their Shared Vision or use the one created for the school.
- It is important that a class' Shared Vision be in "kid friendly" language. This may require the teacher to guide the learners as they "unpack" the school's Shared Vision.
- Teachers and learners should constantly revisit their Shared Vision!
How do you develop the Shared Vision?
To develop the classroom shared vision, you must make sure that all stakeholders' voices are heard. You can gather this information using the following strategies:
The Five Whys: Ask the following question: Why do you need to learn the content in this class? Then use the Five Whys: A questioning technique that allows students to truly delve into their true feelings surrounding a question. How does this strategy work? You don't actually have to ask five why questions, but it does help to get to the root of an issue. Visit the following link: Determine the Root Cause: The 5 Whys.
The Affinity Process: This is a way to get groups to come to a consensus. It also helps to be sure you have gathered all of the stakeholders' input and made everyone feel as if they are apart of the development of their vision. How does this strategy work? Visit the following link: The Affinity Process
Power Voting: This is a method of voting is also a great way of ensuring stakeholder voice and buy-in. How does this strategy work?
The Five Whys: Ask the following question: Why do you need to learn the content in this class? Then use the Five Whys: A questioning technique that allows students to truly delve into their true feelings surrounding a question. How does this strategy work? You don't actually have to ask five why questions, but it does help to get to the root of an issue. Visit the following link: Determine the Root Cause: The 5 Whys.
The Affinity Process: This is a way to get groups to come to a consensus. It also helps to be sure you have gathered all of the stakeholders' input and made everyone feel as if they are apart of the development of their vision. How does this strategy work? Visit the following link: The Affinity Process
- Step 1: The teacher will pose an open-ended question to the learners. (eg. What do good learners do?) Learners will write their responses on different Post-its (one response per Post-it). Students may have multiple responses.
- Step 2: Learners will take turns sharing their responses with their group. As they share, learners will put similar responses together.
- Step 3: Each group will take all of the responses and categorize them.
- Step 4: Groups will construct a definition from the categories they created and write on a large piece of chart paper.
Power Voting: This is a method of voting is also a great way of ensuring stakeholder voice and buy-in. How does this strategy work?
- Step 1: Make sure each statement is written on a large piece of chart paper.
- Step 2: All stakeholders are given three sticky dots - 1 green and 2 yellow. (Choose the colors you want to use.) One color is worth 2 points, the other color is worth 1 point.
- Step 3: Stakeholders place their dots beside the statements they feel are most important. Any combination of dots is permitted - all three on one answer, all three on different answers. It is personalized to fit the needs of the voter.
- Step 4: Tally the votes. Count all three dot colors on each answer. Highest point accumulation wins!
In what other ways can I use the Five Whys and the Affinity Process?
These strategies do not have to be limited in their use to the development of the classroom shared vision. They are also beneficial in the following circumstances:
The Five Whys:
1. Creating personal buy-in whether during the introduction of a unit, when focusing on character education and community service, or thinking about global issues.
3. To assess the root cause of problems
The Affinity Process:
1. Developing paper or project brainstorms with various classes, committees, or colleagues.
2. Gathering feedback from students, parents, or other colleagues.
3. Creating the Code of Cooperation (See the section under Building Culture)
4. Creating Standard Operating Procedures (See the section under Building Culture)
The Five Whys:
1. Creating personal buy-in whether during the introduction of a unit, when focusing on character education and community service, or thinking about global issues.
- Why is it important to learn Shakespeare? Why do we need to understand Reconstruction and the early 1900s? What is the purpose of learning about standard deviation? Why does it matter if you recycle? Why is it important to vote? Why do you need to know about global issues even though you live in North Charleston?
3. To assess the root cause of problems
The Affinity Process:
1. Developing paper or project brainstorms with various classes, committees, or colleagues.
2. Gathering feedback from students, parents, or other colleagues.
3. Creating the Code of Cooperation (See the section under Building Culture)
4. Creating Standard Operating Procedures (See the section under Building Culture)