Students Voice.... do we hear it?

Students teaching us...... stop and listen to their voice.


So when they told me I would be going to a High School, I was stunned. I wasn't sure that is where my talents would best be used. Was I wrong...

I have had the honour and pleasure to work with some amazing students and staff over the past few months. Not only did I learn that what we as individuals feel our talents are can be so off base but I also learned that you are placed where you are needed and where you will learn.

So often as educators many people see what they can do for their students and that is awesome and inspiring but if we would stop for a moment and see what they can do for us, we would realize that this learning journey is a two way street. Sometimes we are the ones following and learning from the students who given the chance can lead!

Inquiry based learning has so often freaked out educators, parents and those around our students with the idea that how will we know what they have learned, they need more structures, etc. But if we can just learn to reflect and let them show us what they know in their own way we might be surprised at what they have learned, the connections they have made and the direction they might lead us to make new connections.

It isn't just the use of technology that enables our young people today, it is that in the online environments and social networks they have a voice and people hear them, respond to them and actually act on their ideas. Can we say this is true of all of our classrooms? Do we hear them? Do we respond to them in a way that they feel heard?

Is everything they say important, necessary, or even on topic... probably not. But the question is do they have the opportunity or do they see the classroom as a place that they just sit and take in information? Social Media provides them with a place and they know that they are welcome to give their ideas, opinions or questions.

More than ever we need to model for our students how to use that forum to thier dvantage and to use it properly. If we can model the use of social media to promote ideas, critically provide feedback and share information instead of bullying, being rash in decision making or just using it to be abusive we can help our young people to make a difference using their voice.

A voice that we do want to hear and a voice that often has so much to offer. I am challenging myself and educators I know to see if we can hear those voices clearer in our day to day work.