Shared Clarity about next Learning Steps Capability 6

Aim To develop a shared understanding of ‘Shared Clarity About Next Learning Steps’

Definition – What do we mean by ‘Shared Clarity about next Learning steps’? Put simply, ‘next steps’ is about – the direction or the plan that the teacher needs to haveabout where the learning is headed; – what the teacher needs to do in order to effectivelycommunicate the direction to the students; it addressesthe question, ‘After we have learnt this, what do weneed to learn next?’; – what the students need to be able to do to play theirpart in ensuring that the teaching and learning hasdirection for them.

Table Talk In which capabilities have we come across ‘Shared Clarity about Next Learning Steps’

Where ‘next steps’ fits in Capability 2 – ClarityWhen sharing the ‘big picture’ relevance of the learning Going from the GLI to the SLI and reviewing the learning – where we have been andwhere we are going to go

Where ‘next steps’ fits in Capability 3 – Assessment LiteracyPeer/self assessment against S.C. and determining where to next – right now andfuture learning Conferencing around assessment (e.g., running records, e-asTTle)

Where ‘next steps’ fits in Capability 4 – Promoting further Learning Feed forward’ when promoting furtherlearning (oral/written) Capability 5 – Active ReflectionWhere do we need to go next with this learning?

Where ‘next steps’ fits in Capability 1 – Learning focused Relationships ‘Shared Clarity about next Learning Steps’ genuinely allows students to shareownership and responsibility for thelearning, especially where students havesome understanding of the learningprogressions within a learning area.

What teachers need... To start with the end in mind Subject knowledge Subject learning progressions Identity with the subject ‘Where to next’ resources which show student learning progressions

What students need... A clear idea of what they are learning – thebig pictureA clear idea of where they are currently at intheir learningA sense of progression for the next stepsThe above to be explicit and visual

A challenge... To create a visual resource, which studentscan use to co-construct ‘next steps’ with theteacher.

Some examples Exemplars displayedPlanning enlarged and on the wallStudent-speak indicatorsVisual displays

“But it is important to remember that it is the pupils who will take the next steps and the more they are involved in the process, the greater will be their understanding of how to extend their learning.” (Assessment Reform Group (1999), p8)