Thanks to the group who met virtually this morning in an effort to learn news approaches to learner-centered instruction! I look forward to your posts as you reflect on the possible ways the 10-minute interview can enhance instruction. Also, let me know the tweaks you plan to make this valuable tool work with your specific students.
You all rock!
I was able to do the 10-minute interview with 4 students. My students are all ESL as well as ABE/ASE students about to start their summer session on Monday, so it was great to do this before class actually starts.
ReplyDeleteI had only intended to do the interview with one student. Because I didn't want to put anyone on the spot, I asked for volunteers. Four wanted to participate, and I didn't want to say no to any of them because they were all so eager to help me with my assignment.
I used the "Potential Questions" and discovered that most of what I am doing really does help the students concentrate and absorb what they have learned. Of the four, only one did not enjoy reading. This was no surprise to me as this student has had difficulty with the language arts test. I also found that they liked working in groups, and I try to do this as much as possible. In fact, I sometimes make quizzes in which I allow them to work in partnership with another student. Every student said that they were unable to learn or concentrate if their was too much noise. Luckily, our classroom is in a rather isolated area, and if it does get loud in the hallway, we are able to close the door and enjoy a relatively quiet room. All students preferred print. This is important to note because I once worked with a team teacher who presented everything she wrote on the board in cursive. Although many student may be able to read it, there are a few who can't and there are even more that are unable to write in cursive.
I would be happy to share more, but I will wait for others to comment.
Diana, I agree that it is great to be able to conduct the ten-minute interview prior to the start of a new class. Sometimes we have preconceived notions about what teaching and learning methods are best for our students without giving them the opportunity for input. Good post!
DeleteDiana,
DeleteYou have some of the most dedicated students, it's no wonder more wanted to participate with you! I think it's great that you were able to engage with more students for this assignment.
Malana
Thanks, Diana, for taking the time to learn more about your students! I am not surprised that you had multiple people who wanted to participate. I have found this tool is an incredible way to connect with and to retain your students. I look forward to hearing more about how learning upfront helps you in the long run with your learners.
ReplyDeleteI conducted the ten-minute interview with four of my students. They range in ages from 16-22 years old. Each student was initially hesitant because they are self-conscious about tests, but when I expressed to them that this was an interview discussion with no right or wrong answers and that it would help them and me to understand their learning interests and abilities they got on board.
ReplyDeleteI discovered that all but one of them like to work in groups. The one student who prefers to work alone often does just that in the classroom setting. 3 of the 4 students struggle with reading and comprehension and all 4 are intimidated by mathematics. The students who enjoy working in a group also prefer to copy information from the board, while the one student who prefers individual learning prefers to copy information from a book.
Overall, the ten-minute interview is an excellent way to learn a students learning preferences. I would recommend conducting the interview within the first couple of weeks of a new learning session. It saves a lot of time for the instructor and enables him or her to organize the classroom setting for the group and formulate a solid learning plan for each individual student.
Tim,
DeleteThanks for your post and thanks for reassuring your students this is not a test. I love that you told them there is no right or wrong answer. I also appreciate you pointing out taking time upfront saves time in the long run!
You are absolutely right in that changing the tone from a test to a discussion puts people at ease. If there is one thing I have learned in life is that people really talking about themselves. When you change the conversation dynamic from formal to casual, you will get to see people more authentically and know their needs a little better.
DeleteTim,
DeleteI most definitely think that using the 10 questions at the beginning of class is a great best practice! Thank you for sharing!
Malana
I remember working with young students early in my career many years ago. How many years ago? I would rather not say. I do recall how funny, creative, and full of energy they were. At that time, I was just starting my teacher career, but I remember that most liked working in groups.
ReplyDeleteThe four students I interviewed all expressed they liked working in groups and that they liked copying from the board. I do that quite a lot, so I felt I had hit the nail on the head with this strategy.
Diana,
DeleteYou can never write too much on the board! Studious students eat that up! Group work is a lot of fun and there's much to be learned in peer groups.
Malana
When I read more in depth these questions, I was brought back to my experience when I was a college advisor at a high school I used to work for. The questions I used were not exactly the same but where along a similar vein. I always found this helpful when I was working with students on future goals.
ReplyDeleteFor me this time I didn't so much have a student to work with rather I had a tutor that helped me out with this. It was very interesting adapting the 10-minute interview. Because we had such a dynamic conversation I ended up only utilizing about 5 questions for the sake of time. I found out that they are interested in art fields, they are more comfortable working individually but are open to group exercises and they are very good at structuring their time to be prepared for class. They also have an aptitude for reaching out to others for materials and understanding of the task at hand.
All in all, this was a great exercise as it really let me get to my tutor a little better. Looking back, even though I only asked five questions, the answers were enough to fill in gaps that other questions would ask. I think the only modification I utilized was guiding the conversation based on the natural flow rather than using the questions as a checklist.
Sounds like a great idea. I encourage anyone to use the 10-minute interview as s starting point. Make it your own and use it in the best way to achieve your goal - getting a deeper and richer understanding of your students...or in the case of your example, a colleague. I definitely agree with the importance of a conversation rather than a checklist.
DeleteYou point out some great takeaways! Naturally flowing conversations helps to build the bridge from creating a culture of learning to creating a community that is build around the culture of learning. It's good stuff!
DeleteMuch like everyone else, I had to modify this assignment. I did this through my weekly contact with all of my students in a somewhat shorter version with a goal to attempt to ask something under each domain. I found this assignment easy to do because it's something that innately happens during each discussion with my students.
ReplyDeleteI would like to use some of these questions as icebreakers next time we are in person. Frame of reference is always different depending on the region someone is from and as students relate to one another it builds community through commonalities in each of them.
Love your heart for building community and finding common ground! What a difference this makes!
DeleteThat has been my personal goal for my program over the past 5 years. Creating a culture of community is so important as so many come to this country knowing no one at all. Connections with people help keep students engaged and positively impacts my overall student retention.
DeleteI agree that sometimes just a few key questions can open a treasure trove of observations to help make the learning experience more effective.
ReplyDeleteThe struggle has been real these lasts couple of months in the classroom!
DeleteMalana, I am not sure which of your comments I am responding to, but yes I do have a dedicated group of students. Those of us who work with ESL students are lucky yet challenged to assist these wonderful students with a successful journey to learning. The ten-minute interview helped reinforce things I have discovered about what students need to help them overcome things more than just the language barrier.
ReplyDeleteFrom the interview, I learned that the students like a quiet environment to focus. I changed the tables and chairs, and the students told me they absolutely loved the way our classroom is now set up. I added plants to the room because we have no windows. We are able to adjust the lights in the room, and I have shown students how to adjust the screens on their computers. They all seem like small things, but it can make such a difference for the learning experience. I could go on and on.
This class makes me reflect even more on how unique everyone is. I tell my students, "We can all learn, just not all at the same time and in the same way."
Thanks for showing simple changes can make big differences!
DeleteDiana,
DeleteIt's true that we are very fortunate to be teaching ESL Learners! I love how you lead change within the classroom. Such small changes can lead to very big results.
I plan to use a more learner-centered teaching style when we return to the classroom. I tend to learn best when given an assignment and a book and left on my own to complete the task. However, most of our students tend to learn better in groups and through hands-on instruction. I plan to accommodate those learning styles by assigning more group tasks and by allowing students to engage with touch, movement, and sound. This will also better prepare them for the workforce when they will likely be working with their hands within a team concept. Our goal is to not only help them pass a GED exam, but to become functioning, productive citizens, as well.
ReplyDeleteTim - thanks for thinking in a learner-centered way! You speak so much truth when you wrote, "Our goal is to not only help them pass a GED exam, but to become functioning productive citizens, as well." Powerful thought!
DeleteTim,
DeleteWhat stuck out with me is when you said, " Our goal is to not only help them pass a GED exam, but to become functioning, productive citizens, as well." How very true and what a massive responsibility. Not only are you learner-centered but you are leading change which is massive. Keep doing what you're doing!
This has been a wonderful learning experience and I while I feel like I'll be better able to apply what I've learned more easily in a brick-and-mortar setting, I do intend to continue to used the 10 questions as I continue through summer session with my weekly student touch bases. Hopefully, when classes resume at the college, I intend to use the 10 questions as an icebreaker during the first week of class. I typically do a learning styles quiz but I feel like the 10 questions adds to the discussion and helps to build a culture of community.
ReplyDeleteI really like the 10 minute interview questions as well. They are great to have as a general getting to know you and to identify what are the real learning goals are. True story, the tutor that I oriented mentioned that they wanted to start their first lesson the same way (with a modified 10 minute interview). It is very easy and applicable to multiple settings.
DeleteMalana - thanks for taking the time to consider how to meet your students where they are and engage them. I hope you find many ways to use your educator tools to engage them both from a distance and in-person!
ReplyDeleteIf there is one strategy I am looking to implement, it is the focus on utilizing the student’s strengths to minimize their weakness. Thinking about the exercise focusing on Mary, her background, goals and challenges, I was able to more clearly identify a variety of learning strategies that would not only use her strengths, but also keep her engaged in her learning. As we evolve in the education field, the traditional approach of students sitting facing the front of the class listening to a teacher give information that will be tested on later is no longer adequate. With multiple personality types, learning styles and general interests, people learn best when their learning styles and interests are engaged. The challenge for me here will be understanding the cultural background of my students. Most of my students come from very traditional backgrounds where the teacher teaches/students listen method is widely practiced. My plan for working with my students going forward will be to utilize this strengths-based approach through the universal design for learning model (why, what and how of subject materials essentially), so that my students are engaged in what could be a new teaching style to them. I feel that this strengths based learning will be able to help them best contextualize material in the classroom in a format that is most applicable to them.
ReplyDeleteChristina,
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to understand your students' strengths and using those to help move them towards success! I agree that culturally differences will impact this journey. However, helping your students understand themselves and to embrace how to learn (both in the classroom and in daily life) will be a tremendous gift and move them towards independence.
I love what you said about minimizing students' weaknesses and focusing on their strengths, Christina. Sometimes we need to hear the words coming from someone else. You words will echo in my thoughts as I implement what I learned in this course. Thanks.
ReplyDelete