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Evolving Education
one small step at the time

Co-Activity in Education

12/8/2016

 
I was asked the question "When can Co-Activity be used in education?" My initial response was "When could it not be used?" But OK, some examples might be better.

Talking with teachers I still hear that they work in a 'traditional' setting. That is, they teach pre-determined lessons in classroom with a class of 30 students who are supposed to be attentively seated on chairs at desks. I would of course like to challenge that, to change it, to create a better working environment; but that requires the understanding, agreement and collaboration of many people. So, I will start in that classroom, with that teacher and that pre-determined lesson plan:

When to use Co-Activity?
  1. Start the lesson (the students are gathered around the doorway)
  2. Start the lesson (the students are in the classroom, and are not quite ready to learn)
  3. Start a particular set of activities
  4. Bring the ongoing activities to a close
  5. Draw out the students' learning from the recent activities
  6. Get some feedback on today's lesson
  7. Give some feedback on today's / yesterday's lesson
  8. Give some behaviour feedback to a student
  9. Give some knowledge feedback to a student
  10. Connect the learning to students' life purpose
  11. Find inspiring reasons for students to connect with the lesson
  12. Guide students in defining their personal goals for the lesson
  13. Guide students in choosing their behavious for the (rest of the) lesson
  14. Guide students in defining their personal goals for the next few weeks
  15. Encourage a student to stretch beyond their (perceived) limits
  16. Involve students who seem uninvolved
  17. Encourage several students to collaborate
  18. Encourage certain students to give each other space to learn the lesson
  19. Connect the learning to the students' community interests and needs >>>
  20. Connect the learning to the students' parents' expectations
  21. Connect the learning to the students' cultural background
  22. Connect the learning to the Education System's expectations
  23. Facilitate learning from a mild difference of opinion
  24. Facilitate learning from a strong difference of opinion
  25. Facilitate learning from a slight difference of perspective
  26. Facilitate learning from a great difference of perspective
  27. Draw out the students' learning from the lesson
  28. Bring the lesson to a close
  29. Prepare the students for the next lesson / lunchbreak etc
  30. many more, so many more


Picture
Co-Active concepts and how they could be applied to:
​

"Connect the learning to the students' community interests and needs." (for example)

Establishing the Agenda
What you say
Ask open questions ... about how much the lesson connects with the students' community interests and needs. 

Resonant Choice
What your eyes, ears and intuition are tuned into
Listening to the class as a whole, and groups of students, aim to identify what resonates with them. Share your observations with the class.

Saboteur Awareness
What your eyes, ears and intuition are tuned into
Note when students sabotage themselves, by what they saying or choosing to hear, or doing, or reacting. Bring that observation to their attention. Teach a Saboteur-taming skill.
​
Wholeness
What you remind yourself
Remind yourself to see each student at all ages in their lives - as everything from an innocent new-born baby, a teenager, a middle-aged person and a wise old person - all at the same time. (for example) 

Witness/Be With
How you manage yourself
Whatever behaviour or language comes up during the lesson, remind yourself that you do not have to react to it. You can simply witness it, stay with it, show that you are receiving the behaviour and language and choosing how you respond. (for example) 

Dance in the Moment
What you do and say
Keep your focus on the pre-set lesson, the agenda and what's happening in the room; and allow yourself to respond in a playful way.

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