Encouraging independent, self-motivated, reflective, and metacognitive learners

Te Mana Kōrero 1

• What has the maths teacher at Rotorua Lakes High School done to help his students become more independent as learners?

[He has introduced collaborative and group-based learning strategies to his class. This is so that his students can learn to help and teach each other, take responsibility for their own learning (as they learn to question themselves and answer their own questions) and have “much more fun”. He notes that this change has required more teacher planning, and the use of different classroom organisation and management techniques, as he hands more responsibility to students. But he says that the lift in student engagement has made the change worthwhile.]

Taihape Area School Case Study: Leading me to lead my learning

• What appear to be the main features of the newly adopted approaches to learning that teachers at Taihape Area School are using?

[Note comments from teachers and students about “crafting the learning to fit the student” and “giving your students room and scope to achieve their goals and their ambitions, but without getting in the way.” As one teacher says, “It’s up to [the learners] to decide.” Also note comments about going for excellence.]

• What appears to be the role of the teacher in leading this approach?

[Note comments from teachers about “role modelling the learning process for students”, “providing a structure where everyone in the room knows what’s happening”, “goal setting” and “facilitating students’ learning” by “posing the right questions” and “helping them overcome their problems”.]

• What appears to be the role of the student in using this approach?

[Note comments from students about the teachers “letting you do your own thing”. This means “giving you the topic or what we’re studying” and “what you need to know”, but allowing you to “work at your own pace” and “find your own information”. Note that one of the students observes that “the teacher helps you, guides you, but they’re not there standing over you telling you what to do.”]

• What appear to be the benefits for students of using this approach?

[Note the principal’s comment about “creating independent thinkers and learners” and the students’ comments about “making the traditional subjects more interesting”.]

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