By Jaya Carrier
I hope everyone’s having a great week! For the final student-centered bitesize of T3, I was interested in an organisation that’s based in the US called ‘Sound Out’ who work around the area of student voice. They’ve produced a helpful and interesting research summary, and conceptualisation about the outcomes associated with student voice.
Objectives:
To understand some of the research literature behind using student voice in education, as well as to create a framework for thinking about the outcomes of using student voice.
Summary:
Sound Out define student voice as ‘the individual and collective perspective and actions of young people within the context of learning and education.’
They argue that student voice has many important outcomes. Here are just a few of those:
- It impacts learning, and can be an extremely important part of transforming student learning. In particular, they argue that research suggests if students feel a sense of involvement in planning lessons, their ownership of that learning is much better.
- It impacts teaching. In particular, they argue that it builds teacher self-efficacy, confidence, and retention.
- It impacts school improvement and leadership. They argue that integrating student voice into leadership decisions improves effective prioritisation.
- It impacts the personal development of students and makes them effective future citizens.
- It impacts school culture and helps to create mutuality and respect between everyone in the community.
- It impacts diversity and can ensure that schools offer cultural, racial, social, and economic diversity in decision making.
Some reflection questions arising from this that might be helpful to consider are:
- How am I using student voice in my practice? What impact is it having?
- Which of the outcomes associated with student voice are ones that resonate with my practice?
- Which are ones I’d like to focus on more?
Thanks so much for this Jaya. I completely agree with the value of student voice being heard, from the classroom to Board level (it was great to have a student speak at the recent Curriculum Committee meeting). Your reflective questions would make for fascinating departmental conversations, I've no doubt!
ReplyDelete("Student voice" has recently been described in some circles as "agency" and you might find this interesting: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Personalized-Learning-Plc-Worktm-Innovative/dp/1942496591 )