Purpose

To give students choice with regard to assignments and projects so that they have a voice in what they learn and how they demonstrate their learning.

Outcome

Students may invest themselves in curriculum they find meaningful; choice increases engagement and higher quality work as students develop mindsets and skills necessary for AP coursework success.

Action Steps

  • Brainstorm an ongoing class list of things the students want to know about and are interested in.
  • Teams of inquiry: each team selects a topic to explore, research, and present.
  • Assess the students’ needs and wants.
  • Model “Think Alouds,” where you demonstrate your own learning as you read an article—pause, ask questions, make connections to things you know.
  • Give final project options and clear rubrics or criteria for grading that students can use to self-evaluate.

Citations

Alber, Rebecca (2014, March 31) Edutopia.org. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/five-strategies-more-voice-choice-students-rebecca-alber

Block, Joshua (2014, October 30) Edutopia.org. Retrieved from https://www.edutopia.org/blog/student-choice-leads-to-voice-joshua-block

Are these strategies helpful?