Research taster
Teachers interested
in what their pupils have to say usually want to make sure they consult the full range
of pupils, but it can be difficult to get everyone to open up. Some pupils
can dominate pupil talk in the classroom, while others are content to become
disengaged. Teachers may need to pay special attention to finding out the views
of particular groups of pupils. Some
teachers have found it helpful to emphasise the value of pupil talk. Instead of using a great deal of whole-class,
teacher-directed talk, they promote small-group, child-centred talk, by
providing activities which encourage collaboration. 
Your evidence
You
might like to build a more detailed picture of just who is and isn’t
participating in talk in your lessons. Given the complicated dynamics of the
behaviour you are trying to observe, it may be a good idea to videotape a
lesson and watch it carefully several time to identify those who do not
participate. If you have already produced a video tape recording for a previous
activity, you might wish to use that.
You might pay special attention to:
- pupils who do not volunteer to speak or answer
questions.
- pupils who avoid being chosen to speak, perhaps by
only putting up their hand as someone else is chosen to answer
- pupils who seem embarrassed if they become the
centre of attention.
- pupils who always provide monosyllabic answers or
who refuse to speak at all.
Moving forward
Having
identified patterns of talk and the way different “groups of concern”
contribute to it you might want to plan some adjustments. How would you get
started? For example, would you pay particular attention to one group? How big
a role would talk play in such a situation? Could consulting the whole class
help specific groups to open up?
Find out more
The
project website: http://www.consultingpupils.co.uk/
A TLRP
Research Brief on pupil voice at:
http://www.tlrp.org/pub/documents/no5_ruddock.pdf
A GTC
Research of the Month summary on pupil voice at:
http://www.gtce.org.uk/policyandresearch/research/ROMtopics/pupilvoice/
|
