Visible Learners Promoting Reggio-Inspired Approaches in All Schools

by Krechevsky, Mara; Mardell, Ben; Rivard, Melissa; Wilson, Daniel

• ISBN13: 9781118345696
• ISBN10: 111834569X
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-05-20
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass

Summary

A progressive, research-based approach for making learning visible

Based on the Reggio Emilia approach to learning, Visible Learners highlights learning through interpreting objects and artifacts, group learning, and documentation to make students' learning evident to teachers. Visible classrooms are committed to five key principles: that learning is purposeful, social, emotional, empowering, and representational. The book includes visual essays, key practices, classroom and examples.

• Show how to make learning happen in relation to others, spark emotional connections, give students power over their learning, and express ideas in multiple ways
• Illustrate Reggio-inspired principles and approaches via quotes, photos, student and teacher reflections, and examples of student work
• Offer a new way to enhance learning using progressive, research-based practices for increasing collaboration and critical thinking in and outside the classroom

Visible Learners asks that teachers look beyond surface-level to understand who students are, what they come to know, and how they come to know it.

Author Biography

Mara Krechevsky is a senior researcher at Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Ben Mardell, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Lesley University and a former researcher at Project Zero.

Melissa Rivard is a senior researcher and visual media specialist at Project Zero.

Daniel Wilson, Ed.D., is a principal investigator and lecturer at Project Zero.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Introduction     

PART I: Six Learning Portraits           

Chapter 1: The Yellow Door: Turning problems into projects in kindergarten   

Chapter 2: The Vernal Pool: Seventh-Graders Investigate and Protect Nature   

Chapter 3: Grappling with Greatness: Negotiating Different Points of View in AP Literature     

Chapter 4: The Amazing Circus Act: High School Mathematics Students Learn in Plain Sight 

Chapter 5: Meet the Directors: Kindergartners Study the Boston Marathon

Chapter 6: Eyes on Engagement: Supporting Student Inquiry in a Fourth Grade Classroom    

PART II: Principles and Practices  

Chapter 7: Making Learning and Learners Visible

Chapter 8: Unpacking the Practice of Group Learning        

Chapter 9: Unpacking the Practice of Documentation         

Chapter 10: Making Learning Visible in an Age of Accountability  

PART III: Tools for Making Learning and Learners Visible   

Chapter 11: Supporting Learning in Groups in the Classroom 

1. Getting Started with Making Learning Visible      

2. Looking at Learning in Groups: Classroom Discussion Guidelines      

3. Considerations for Forming Small Groups     

4. Entry-Point Charts: Engaging All Members of the Group   

5. Structures for Giving and Receiving Feedback      

Chapter 12: Supporting Learning in Groups in the Staffroom

6. “Throwing Your Money Away”: Exploring Group Learning and Documentation

7. Designing and Facilitating Adult Study Groups     

8. Looking at Documentation:  The Collaborative Assessment Conference 

9. Creating Documentation for Public Viewing: Protocol 1   

10. Creating Documentation for Public Viewing: Protocol 2  

Chapter 13: Documenting Individual and Group Learning      

11. Documentation: When Does It Make Learning Visible?     

12. Beginning to Document through Intentional Inquiry      

13. Beginning to Document by Stepping Back     

14. Considerations for Selecting a Documentation Tool      

15. Guidelines for Shooting Video and Photographs    

16. Making Learners’ Words Visible: Speech Bubbles   

Chapter 14: Engaging Families in Supporting Student Learning

17. Introducing Families to Making Learning Visible  

18. Refrigerator Reminder: Five Ways to Make Learning Visible at Home

19. Making Learning Visible Family Survey      

20. Involving Families in the Learning Process

21. Documenting Learning at Home         

Chapter 15: Making Learning Visible beyond the Classroom   

22. Bulletin Boards That Make Learning and Learners Visible

23. Creating Exhibitions of Teaching and Learning    

24. Anatomy of an Exhibition Panel

25. Zoom Guidelines and Template   

About the Authors

Notes      

Index