Inspired by Amanda Hornick, a 6th grade teacher in our district, and Beth Campbell, our Tech Integrationist, my fifth grade teachers (Becky Larson and Tara Sitrick) and myself decided to create what we are calling our 5th Grade Digital Leadership Team. We decided to start with six students from each class.
We outlined what we wanted as their primary responsibilities:
- Piloting new technology being used in the classroom
- Training other students on that technology in the classroom
- Ensuring classroom technology is properly handled and stored
Then, we presented this idea to our students and asked those who were interested to fill out an application. We also indicated that this was a new position and we were all learning together, so they would be helping to create/change the responsibilities of the team throughout the year.
Our teams met for the first time yesterday. Holding with my guiding question "What decisions am I making for students that they could make for themselves", I proposed the following task to them:
Our teams met for the first time yesterday. Holding with my guiding question "What decisions am I making for students that they could make for themselves", I proposed the following task to them:
Discuss:
1. How will be accomplish bullet 3?
2. How will we hold each other accountable?
Draft a plan to ensure that your classroom technology is properly handled and stored at the end of each day.
The conversations began quickly. Fairly soon, two very different schedules were being developed. Both groups did a great job of listening to each other and trying to ensure that everyone was getting the responsibilities they were most interested in (at least part of the time.)
But when it came to the second part of that discussion, accountability, it was a much more difficult idea. The students struggled first with the idea of holding each other accountable (rather than the teacher holding them all accountable) and then ... what would be a reasonable consequence when someone doesn't do their job? It was exciting to listen to their discussions. I'm anxious to see how things progress from this point on.
But when it came to the second part of that discussion, accountability, it was a much more difficult idea. The students struggled first with the idea of holding each other accountable (rather than the teacher holding them all accountable) and then ... what would be a reasonable consequence when someone doesn't do their job? It was exciting to listen to their discussions. I'm anxious to see how things progress from this point on.
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As a side note, Becky reported to me that the Leadership Team completed their duties at the end of the day without being prompted to do so. They're off to a good start!
