Student Perspective:
John Hattie (2012) argues that one of the most important dimensions in assessing a lesson’s effectiveness from the student perspective is based around whether or not the student was clearly invited to learn. He suggests that, "calling on the student perspective in such an assessment helps the conversation move “away from the teaching toward the effect of the teaching” (pg. 155). Hattie is a strong advocate for Invitational Learning -- which is structured around the following four facets:
In the end, the student experience of the lesson is really all that matters. Engaged students are far more likely to learn and retain the material. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the teacher to design lessons which invite the learner into the lesson. Hattie encourages educators to utilize invitational learning, which "requires a transparent commitment to promote learning for all, and consideration of a student's prior learning and of what each student brings to the lesson" (pg. 157). At the heart of invitational learning is the learning environment -- it is one that requires fairness and openness, embraces errors, and collaboration (pg. 157).
- Trust -- all students were engaged and knew that “the process of learning was….as important as the product of the lesson”
- Optimism -- all students understand that the teacher believed “they possess untapped potential in learning what is being taught”
- Intentionality -- the teacher “created and maintained the flow of the lesson specifically designed to invite learning”
- Respect -- all students were treated as “able, valuable, and responsible” (Hattie, 2012, p. 157).
In the end, the student experience of the lesson is really all that matters. Engaged students are far more likely to learn and retain the material. Therefore, it is in the best interest of the teacher to design lessons which invite the learner into the lesson. Hattie encourages educators to utilize invitational learning, which "requires a transparent commitment to promote learning for all, and consideration of a student's prior learning and of what each student brings to the lesson" (pg. 157). At the heart of invitational learning is the learning environment -- it is one that requires fairness and openness, embraces errors, and collaboration (pg. 157).