Using dialogic diaries to explore and develop student understanding Nicola Walshe Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

What am I trying to find out? What are students’ understandings of sustainability at the beginning of Year 10? How do students’ understandings of sustainability change throughout Year 10 (and onto Year 11)? To what extent can students’ understandings of sustainability be explored (and developed?) through the use of dialogic diaries?

The Students Photos of students removed

The Specification Edexcel B GCSE Specifications: a focus on sustainability Units so far: Dynamic Population Consuming Resources Living Spaces Making a Living

Dialogic diaries: the process ME STUDENTS Reflections on learning Questions about understanding of sustainability Questions about learning Responses to my comments / questions Questions about me Questions about learning / reflections Responses to student questions (all of them!) Information about themselves Questions about students Photo of student removed

Building Relationships Uncertainty Enthusiasm & Clarity TIME Habit & Learning Apathy & Lack of Enthusiasm QUALITY OF DIARY RESPONSE Motivators:  Reference to personal interest (quiz)Reference to personal interest (quiz)  Reference to my own personal life Reference to my own personal life  Discussion of point of diaries  Tailoring diary to individual  Alternative work!

What do you think? Can you see any evidence of ‘learning’ in the extract? How might the diaries be used as a teaching / learning tool (by teachers) How might the diaries be used by us with trainee teachers? Jess Photo of student removed

What do the students think? Jess Chris Tyler Photos of students removed

What does the teacher think? (1) Learning about sustainability “The diaries have really helped a lot of the pupils consider the three pillars... and they have started to use the words ‘environmentally / economically / socially sustainable’ more without me prompting them. They can see it as a theme in all of the lessons and in discussing it more in the diaries, it has made some of them more confident in lessons.”

“Some pupils have struggled with graphs like population pyramids and the DTM. In being able to discuss this and write down their worries, it has helped keep them going It has also shown them that an extra interest is being taken in them, and for some pupils, this has been excellent. James has come round (I think) and people like Faith, Amy and Rebecca have a forum for their thoughts and ideas. I love it!” What does the teacher think? (2) Learning and reflecting

Brief Thoughts.... Researching understanding vs developing understanding My multiple personalitiesmultiple personalities Implications for teaching / teacher training? Looking forward..... Time scale? Analysis? Dialogic Ning? Photo of student removed

Multiple Personalities! Dr WalsheMe The diary personaThe classroom persona