Pretty sure @conniehamilton is buying coffee for every single person who attends today's #HackLearning chat.
Retweet this, and let's get 150 people to join us live. That's a ton of @Starbucks reward points for Connie.
👋🏼Serve as Instructional Coach at Bartlett MS in Porterville, CA! Excited about this morning's #HackLearning topic on collaborative conversations hosted by @conniehamilton
Pretty sure @conniehamilton is buying coffee for every single person who attends today's #HackLearning chat.
Retweet this, and let's get 150 people to join us live. That's a ton of @Starbucks reward points for Connie.
A1 Key components of collaborative conversations: a meaningful task, awareness of our own biases, curiosity about each other, interest in collective success, willingness to be uncomfortable, empathy, forgiveness, and eye contact.
#HackLearning
#HackLearning A1: 🔑component is Ss actively listening & responding to each other.
"The Neglected 'R' in Instruction for 21st Century Learners."👇🏼
"Which "R" is frequently missing from lessons for ELs?"
▪️Rigor
▪️Relevance
▪️Relationships
👉🏼RESPONSES -Dr. Kate Kinsella
A1. Expectations. Set the expectations high and hold the kids accountable for surging past them.
shine the spotlight on the kids! Give them shoutouts for what they’re doing/saying.
Use stems to help them get started.
Most important: listen!
#hacklearning
A1: Collaborative conversations can only happen when individuals have open minds, open hearts, and open ears.....you must actively listen to each other, not just hear the words but listen, and contribute worth to the conversation for collaboration to happen #hacklearning
Positive interdependence means that each person's role in the task is essential to the completion of the overall group task. This goes beyond role of "task master". #HackLearning
A1: Collaborative conversations can only happen when individuals have open minds, open hearts, and open ears.....you must actively listen to each other, not just hear the words but listen, and contribute worth to the conversation for collaboration to happen #hacklearning
A1. Expectations. Set the expectations high and hold the kids accountable for surging past them.
shine the spotlight on the kids! Give them shoutouts for what they’re doing/saying.
Use stems to help them get started.
Most important: listen!
#hacklearning
A1: Collaborative conversations can only happen when individuals have open minds, open hearts, and open ears.....you must actively listen to each other, not just hear the words but listen, and contribute worth to the conversation for collaboration to happen #hacklearning
A1: Making sure that all involved in the conversation feel heard, know that there will be follow through, and that conversation is respectful and fair. #HackLearning
Individual and Group Accountability is holding each student accountable for their contributions toward the total project and also looking at the quality of the work they produce together. This reduces opportunity for students to ride coattails of their team. #HackLearning
Interpersonal and Small Group Skills means that students must have the speaking and listening skills in order for their groups to be productive. Mini lessons to support questioning, respect, agree/disagree and can improve their success. #HackLearning
For this to happen with students, you have to model what collaboration looks like, not just one time, repeatedly, let them see you collaborate with other teachers too #HackLearning
A1: Having an open mind when having the conversation, to begin with. Being an active listener also helps with the willingness to take action afterwards. #HackLearning
Group Processing is often overlooked in projects. Frequent and regular opportunities for students to synthesize their progress and problem solve as needed can be planned in the structure. #HackLearning
This has sparked another question for me, #hacklearning - how do you help students become more comfortable with taking the risk to share what they are really thinking?
For this to happen with students, you have to model what collaboration looks like, not just one time, repeatedly, let them see you collaborate with other teachers too #HackLearning
A1:because I teach young students, it’s necessary to teach and model what a conversation and collaboration is. We start early and often with the process and take time to build a foundation so that collaboration/ convo can happen all year long. #hacklearning
A1: Having the students breakdown what they expect to find/see in any conversation that they have will help them realize that fulfilling those expectations makes for more productivity and less frustration. #HackLearning
The work students are doing should offer an appropriate level of challenge and the purpose should be clear. Tasks that are too simple or where the relevancy is unclear make managing collaborative leaning more challenging for teachers. #HackLearning
A1: Having systems/structures in place that make Collaborative Conversations safe and easy: Response Frames, Essential Questions, Common Prior Knowledge, etc. #HackLearning
A1: Having an open mind when having the conversation, to begin with. Being an active listener also helps with the willingness to take action afterwards. #HackLearning
It starts with encouraging respect for all ideas in the classroom, at the faculty meeting. Explicitly teach how we listen, how we focus in order to be a better listener, how we ask clarifying questions. Then reward Ss who do this well! #HackLearning
No easy answer there, but modeling, teaching it explicitly (esp listening to understand, not to formulate your next response), and using structures that allow space for all to share and all to listen. #hacklearning
A1: I think a toolbox of ideas, framework to assess but letting them know it’s not black and white and allowing them to come up with ideas I don’t have. Seeking input. Listening. #HackLearning
A1 Collaborative conversation demands concerted effort to build on what's been said (e.g., agree, disagree; give examples, counter examples; probe deeper via questions). Less appealing convo alternative is people talking past each other to hear own voices. #hacklearning
A1 Conversation & collaboration starts BEFORE the discussion with personal knowledge, awareness, and growth. THESE start with reflection.
#hacklearning
A1:because I teach young students, it’s necessary to teach and model what a conversation and collaboration is. We start early and often with the process and take time to build a foundation so that collaboration/ convo can happen all year long. #hacklearning
A1: 🔑 to collaborative conversations include the need for our Ss to develop their attentive listening skills & increase attentive listening stamina. Encourage Ss to ask for clarification, restate, record, build on their partner's ideas, and/or share similarities. #HackLearning
Collaborative conversations can be effective if there is a clear agenda & goal for the conversation. The conversation should end with clear next steps & explicit timelines. #HackLearning
A1 Be explicit with expectations, post them, don't assume that students understand what it means to listen. Listening is a skill that is hard to acquire even for adults #HackLearning
A2: Once we know that a safe and respectful environment has been created in the classroom, and that students are confident enough to share their thoughts and ideas. #HackLearning
One way that works for me is when I facilitate discussions, we discuss our norms first. Then, reinforcing them during discussions. Modeling also helps Ss on how I carry the conversation with them. #HackLearning
Collaborative conversations can also be effective if participants agree to avoid the “groupthink” approach & instead embed opportunities for respectful dissent & discourse. #hacklearning
A2: Anytime they can teach each other without us can be a great opportunity. Some days it's for bigger things than others, but if it's part of the everyday, it becomes more comfortable. #hacklearning
A2: establish a classroom with mutual respect and trust then model what collaborative conversations look like!
A lot of times they think, “oh cool” is an appropriate response. This is why I love question stems. #hacklearning
A2: Collaboration is not subject specific and the more you use it the more comfortable students will become with it......if you know a student has difficulty with it, be a facilitator for that student group, model, offer support, be the guide #HackLearning
A1: 🔑 to collaborative conversations include the need for our Ss to develop their attentive listening skills & increase attentive listening stamina. Encourage Ss to ask for clarification, restate, record, build on their partner's ideas, and/or share similarities. #HackLearning
A1 collaborative conversations represent flexible and mindful thinking - build skillfulness in how to disagree thoughtfully, how to share the talk space, reflectively process the other’s words and heart - #hacklearning
Been playing discussion game lately w/7th & 8th graders, inspired by @ajjulianihttps://t.co/5k9d6O6jYu Though structure has started falling away, many students seem more comfortable risking participation. #hacklearning
Whenever there is a question that has no right or wrong answer, projects, whenever there is a need to make conclusions, connections, predictions...in other words, students should be collaborating often. #hacklearning
A2 Not every conversation is collaborative. Students often take turns sharing but don’t change their thinking. To collaborate, both students need to bring ideas to the table, and both need to be willing to discover, build, and refine together.
#HackLearning
A1: A 🔑 component that makes collaborative conversations more effective is establishing a sense of community where Ss feel safe to share & are given infinite opportunities to do so hence lowering affect filter.
🗣Builds community
#HackLearning
A2 Collaborative conversations need to embedded in our classroom , opportunities shlild be the norm and allowed to hapoen naturally as well as structured once we have taught Ss how to have effective CC #HackLearning
A2 This can be done by creating safe, non judgemental environments and throug modelling throughout the year, these strategies will instill confidence for Ss to be responsive #hackLearning
One way that works for me is when I facilitate discussions, we discuss our norms first. Then, reinforcing them during discussions. Modeling also helps Ss on how I carry the conversation with them. #HackLearning
A2: If you notice a curiosity forming. Or if there ISN’T a curiosity yet. Maybe it’s early and there are “crickets”. Pause and allow those conversations to happen in a small group setting to warm ‘em up. #HackLearning
Q2: There’s no specific “when”...collaborative conversation can preview a topic, explore a topic, review a topic, or even be a component of assessment. Group discussion allows our verbal and aural learners and our problem solvers the opportunity to process. #HackLearning
A1: I’ve used an exercise w/ students called “Listening Loudly.” They tell their story to a partner for 90 seconds. The partner needs to listen and then repeat it back verbatim, and then share a few traits about the speaker they noticed. Then they switch roles. #hacklearning
When looking for talk stems to boost collaborative talk, choose some that include questions that are more likely to carry conversations than to just provide frames for sharing my own thinking. #hacklearning
A2 observe body language of individuals and group - how might you read who is ready to join in - needs an overt invitation - or simply a break to give space to enter? #HackLearning
A2 When they naturally come to a point in a lesson where they've finished covering something and you want them to describe the key points in pairs to other students #HackLearning
A2 When Ss are brainstorming or working in groups, they collaborate in small groups which gives them confidence to share in larger groups. #hackLearning
We have our most basic norms that can be transferred w/ diff types of conversations. But then we add to them when need be. I do play it by ear, most of the time. It depends on how passionate my Ss become! #hacklearning
These kinds of talk moves can support students who are shy or have language barriers. They help them to frame their own thinking. Different than accountable talk which are designed to continue dialogue. #hackLearning
A2: Have students engage with a peer anytime you want to check their understanding, process information, or generate questions. You can pick up a lot wandering the room. #HackLearning
If we want students to participate in meaningful collaborative conversations, then, as the educators, we must model what healthy & productive conversations & collaboration look like. Modeling is a powerful vehicle for learning! #HackLearning
Yes ... hard to get ids to understand that collaborative does not mean splitting the work ... you answer this question and i'll answer that one. #hacklearning
A2. I gave my Ss 'task cards'. Everyone contributes to the overall project in global areas, but each has a specific "management" task. Keeps them all working with each other.
#hacklearning
Definitely an important distinction. Perhaps asking Ss to respond to the prompt, "Was there something that you heard today that made you change your thinking?" Other ideas? #HackLearning
A2 Not every conversation is collaborative. Students often take turns sharing but don’t change their thinking. To collaborate, both students need to bring ideas to the table, and both need to be willing to discover, build, and refine together.
#HackLearning
A2 Prompt students towards collaborative conversation when we observe current (default?) modes of communication no longer serving learning purposes. #hacklearning
A2b: Even my most reluctant collaborators will engage in discussion via FlipGrid. If you haven’t tried it and want to, I can walk you through it. Here’s a promo code for 45 days of FlipGrid Classroom for FREE: SHARIN Your kids will have #flipgridfever in no time! #hacklearning
A2 Colloboration isn’t subject specific we should encourage speaking with others as often as possible. Definitely helps to connect the dots so to speak for all #hacklearning
Digital tools can be used to facilitate and enhance student discussion inside AND outside of the classroom.
#hacklearning
My resources can be accessed here:
https://t.co/dgVwIKz35p
A3: I think setting goals before the conversation. What is it that we want to get out of the conversation? What are some of the “main ideas”?
Are our students comfortable conversing in the group their sitting with? Culture is a huge part of it. #HackLearning
When looking for talk stems to boost collaborative talk, choose some that include questions that are more likely to carry conversations than to just provide frames for sharing my own thinking. #hacklearning
As a Social Studies teacher this is hard for kids to understand ... many questions will not have the same answer... more about perspective than finding "the answer". #hacklearning
I've done this activity before good for listening and speaking skills for ELs especially when content vocab is included. Yoh could begin it with a writing activity as well. #HackLearning#ellchat
A2: There are so many opportunities to prompt collaborative talk, but I love those moments that it happens organically, when you walk over and overhear rich, grounded, fiery discussion #hacklearning
A3 A talking stick that allows only the person who has it to talk. Having a name taker to ensure that everyone gets a turn to talk. Having a note taker. Teacher checking in to make sure conversation stays on task. #HackLearning
A2:I’ve had great success by starting with epuodvyou rather questions to get Ss thinking about personal opinions. Once Ss are comfortable w/this, it’s a process of scaffolding. #hacklearning
A3 I remind my sts what “I should not be hearing ... and what I should be hearing” ... I use discussion starters ... remind sts that listening is more important than speaking so as to increase their learning from each other #hacklearning
In order for that to happen organically, you must have a culture in your classroom where students don't think it's cheating to talk to one another. Nice, Megan! #hacklearning
A2: There are so many opportunities to prompt collaborative talk, but I love those moments that it happens organically, when you walk over and overhear rich, grounded, fiery discussion #hacklearning
A3 Besides newly learned discussion game I mentioned earlier, I also like save-the-last-word protocol for student interactions w/text. https://t.co/MLAm7lucYy#hacklearning
A2 Here’s an example of a sustained dialogue issues sheet used locally @uva runs sustained dialogue on campus .. but I think norms and guiding thoughts can work in k-12 #hacklearninghttps://t.co/szD1GRMfY8
A3: Never, ever shut down a student and make them feel like what they’re saying isn’t valid/important. Don’t kill their vibe. Communicating is hard! #HackLearning
A3: Whiteboards! I incorporate a lot of modeling into my classroom and having groups write up models/ideas on a whiteboard then share/discuss/explain/wonder together is powerful #HackLearning
A2 Prompt students towards collaborative conversation when we observe current (default?) modes of communication no longer serving learning purposes. #hacklearning
A3 Here’s a structure:
1. A responds to a question.
2. B says back what they heard, asks a question, or empathizes.
3. B responds to the question.
4. A says back what they heard, asks a question, or empathizes.
5. A and B talk about how the discussion went.
#HackLearning
A3: Collaboration Norms (just like meeting Norms for adults) are the best strategy. Collaborative Roles and Responsibilities are awesome, too. (If they aren’t written like rules and leave room for natural independence, students are less likely to struggle with them.)#HackLearning
Doing a “create your own civilization” project to mirror our unit study on Mesopotamia. These are their global/ universal and specific roles.
https://t.co/rvyTLXZ4UZ#hacklearning
A3: I've seen using hand signals during whole group discussions. Never used but they looked interesting to allow quite students to communicate. #HackLearning
YES! YES!
Notice the listening skills that are necessary in order for this protocol to happen. Without listening, we really don't have conversation. #HackLearning
A3 Here’s a structure:
1. A responds to a question.
2. B says back what they heard, asks a question, or empathizes.
3. B responds to the question.
4. A says back what they heard, asks a question, or empathizes.
5. A and B talk about how the discussion went.
#HackLearning
A3: I love popcorn method. The teacher provides a question or prompt (linked to the lesson) then steps back and the Ss respond, no hand raising, just respectful turn taking. It encourages risk taking, debate, thought articulation, etc. Powerful dialogue emerges. #hacklearning
A3 Here’s a protocol students can use to explore questions. It creates a structure for an inclusive, nonjudgmental, collaborative conversation.
#HackLearning
If we aren't talking about what we are thinking, listening to what others are thinking, and critiquing, we might as well not be in a room full of others #HackLearning
In math, anytime reasoning is involved, collaboration and discussion should be involved. Critiquing the reasoning of others is a process standard and incredibly important for meta cognitive reflection.
A3: Use brainwriting instead of brainstorming. Everyone jots down their ideas in advance, then shares them out. This limits “anchoring” on the 1st idea expressed, and resultant groupthink mentality. https://t.co/0c2ZS4Lo0m#hacklearning
A3: Still new to eduprotocols but we can support our students by providing sentence stems, reflection circles, for younger children you could use social stories, open ended prompts, collaborative guided mini sessions #HackLearning
#HackLearning A3: Encourage Ss to engage in conversations by responding & building on each other's 💡s & making👇🏼
🔗Ss to Ss connections🗣
🔗Text within text connections📖
🔗Text to self connections 🙋🏻♂️🙇🏻♀️
🔗Text to world connections 🌎
🔗Text to text connections 📚
A3 Providing sentence starter cards can be helpful to begin the conversation. I use them for math talks, the kids find the structure helpful #hacklearning
A3 Group work, ensuring everyone has a turn at sharing and keeping the topic relevant and on task. These are done by providing ground rules. Come on 1000 tweets! How bout a free book for the tweeter living the furtherest away hehe #hacklearning
Whatever structure/protocol is used, we need to make sure there is space & support for Ss who need more processing time (due to language or other needs), because their voices are the ones that most often get buried. #HackLearning
A3: Our district is very big on @RonRitchhart's Visible Thinking. Great protocols to share thinking for both self and others. This site a few of our Ts created is helpful for exploring routines: https://t.co/74MgmVDoXK#hacklearning
A3 I see kids in our @responsiveclass morning meetings learning to listen to each other, wait, piggyback discussion points - model, practice, feedback, kids assess how they are doing #hacklearning
It's key to have students talking to one another beginning at K. There is so much student-teacher talk. How can we help them make meaning from one another so they don't become dependent on us? #HackLearning
A3: Still new to eduprotocols but we can support our students by providing sentence stems, reflection circles, for younger children you could use social stories, open ended prompts, collaborative guided mini sessions #HackLearning
We value #HackLearning Ambassadors so much and want to show you with another powerful free tool.
Get more from our moderator--the amazing @conniehamilton. This 95-page guide shows you how to make kids love learning outside of class.
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I might argue it's more than half, but definitely the difference between turn and tell - "OK we're done we shared" vs. have a conversation. #HackLearning
A3: I would ask Ss to write 1st on paper what they think for 2 mins. When it's sharing time they just read what they wrote. Some Ss are hesitant/just copy what others said. This allows them to formulate their opinions independently & have the confidence to share. #hacklearning
A3: Also encourage Ss to use the strategy by @Doug_Lemov called "Sentence Parameters." Encourage Ss to use a key vocabulary in their collaborative conversations.
✔️Great CFU
✔️Great way for Ss to use the word within their own context
#HackLearning
Join #HackLearning chat Jan 28 at 8:30-9:00am EDT when Eric Sheninger @E_Sheninger will be guest moderator leading chat on the "hacky" topic of Transforming Learning
#HackLearning A3 I think having conversations about behavior and manners is also important. I have a list of words for my students (please, thank you, good morning, I'm sorry). Some students just haven't developed social skills.
The most important part is celebrating differences in voices, empower our learners for being unique, let them know what they think matters, empowerment will give them that push to step away from the box and speak up, make their voices heard #hacklearning
My #1 answer is to provide time/space for it! If you are always engaging in student-teacher talk, how will they ever learn to make meaning with each other without the teacher? #hacklearning
