UNDERSTANDING WHAT STUDENTS SAY: MY VOICE GROUPS INTERPRETING STUDENT VOICE SURVEY RESULTS Session 3 Module 6 Presented by the MBI Consultants

Importance of Student Voice  Students are important stakeholders- it's their education "The only group whose voice seems strangely absent in this chorus of ideas and counter ideas is that of the students themselves" Johnson, 1999

Importance of Student Voice  Getting students involved can prevent self-study from becoming a paper shuffle without substance  Committed students help move the process along  Getting students involved can prevent self-study from becoming a paper shuffle without substance  Committed students help move the process along

8 Conditions of Student Aspirations  Belonging  Heroes  Sense of Accomplishment  Fun & Excitement  Curiosity & Creativity  Spirit of Adventure  Leadership & Responsibility  Confidence to Take Action

Avoid “Sampling Error” and survey all students.

The results reflect respondents’ perceptions of reality  The Student Survey is an opinion Survey

How Results are Reported Heroes Total in Agreement GenderGrade MaleFemale Students respect teachers 41%38%43%40%34%45%25% I have a teacher who is a positive role model for me 68%62%77%62%75%74%67% What is “Total in Agreement”? Total in Agreement = Sum of all responses marked “strongly agree” and “agree” divided by all those who responded to the question.

Big Ideas  Students will greatly benefit from improvements that they are involved with implementing  Schools can learn from students' input about instruction, climate, and classroom structure  Students learn new skills from their involvement in school improvement and restructuring efforts 3

Getting Students Involved: Focus Groups  “… when you've got an adult and a child on the same team …suddenly the size doesn't matter …we're both looking for whatever it is we can do to fix that picture for kids …” Ken Hansen, Teacher North Salem High School Salem, Oregon

Focus Groups  A way to hear from students, while staff or other adults listen  The next step is to collaborate as a staff team  The ultimate intention is to collaborate with students to improve the climate based on Focus Group results.

How the Focus Group Process Works  Make decisions that reflect student perspectives - Invite student representation into the process - Make a public announcement about decisions made

How the Focus Group Process Works  Preparing: The school generates four to six questions for students to answer, such as:  What do good teachers do at school?  What makes a good student?  What would make this school a better place?

Belonging 2010 Montana Data Questions to ask during focus groups: What does a welcoming school look like to students? What does it look like when a teacher cares about my problems and feelings?

Heroes 2010 Montana Data Questions to ask during focus groups: What does respect from your teacher look like? What does it look like when students respect each other?

Using the Results  Schedule time for stakeholders to review  Put information in context. Refer to purpose of focus group.  Compare, contrast, and combine with other data sources  Decide how to address main themes, problems, issues, questions that arise  Prioritize information and, with student representation, develop action plan

"Students should not only be trained to live in a democracy when they grow up; they should have the chance to live in one today." - Alfie Kohn