Talk about the Learning

The work Dr. John Hattie, the author of Visible Learning, is inspiring.  His thought provoking research focuses on the factors that have the greatest impact on learning and Hattie advises, “Know thy impact!”   When student learning is visible to the teacher – the teacher grows and makes sound instructional decisions that impact student learning.  When the teaching is visible to the students – they know what to do and develop into their own teachers. The impact – motivated lifelong learners.

Hattie shares that a key element of developing a climate of successful student learning comes from the educator’s “mind frame.”  Our mind frames direct the actions and decisions we make that impact student learning.  If we are to be agents of positive change, we need to examine our mind frames and truly talk about the learning.

Hattie’s Mind Frame #3 states:

Educators should talk more about the learning than the teaching.

We need to have quality dialogues (with colleagues and students) about the learning process and how to effectively:

• Develop trust.
• Challenge and encourage.
• Examine student learning.
• Analyze outcomes.
• Evaluate success.
• Find opportunities in areas of needed growth.
• Model, intervene, and guide.
• Evaluate our interventions.
• Listen to and explore feedback.
• Focus on the process of learning.
• Spread the joy and power of learning.

We can start effective dialogues about learning by first evaluating our own mind frames.  As leaders of student learning – we must be learners ourselves – agents of change – willing to grow and focus on how we can have a genuine impact on student learning.  “Know thy impact!”