Thrive in Action Blog Series: Rigorous Thinking, GPS 2 - Purpose

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The Thrive In Action blog series highlights practical applications for Great Pedagogy Strategies (GPS) within the EdConnective Thrive Framework, summarized here. The EdConnective Thrive Framework is unique in that it can be applied to teaching actions seamlessly whether learning is in-person or remote. This week we get more familiar with:

Rigorous Thinking, GPS 2 - Purpose: Towards the beginning of the lesson, the teacher explicitly states the purpose of the learning and activity, and connects the learning to students’ lives.

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Before teachers jump into the main content and learning activities of their lesson, it is essential that they help students to understand the purpose behind the learning they are about to engage with. The purpose drives the learning and motivates the students. Without understanding the “why” behind the “what,” students will be left feeling disconnected and often disengaged from the learning. As Cornelius Minor says, “I want to build a bridge for children- a bridge between what we are doing in class and the lives they leave outside of class.” (Minor 2019).  When students understand the purpose behind the activities they are doing and can connect it to their real life and real lived experiences, they are more likely to be engaged and thinking deeply about what they are learning. 

Often communicating the purpose to students looks like simply explicitly stating the importance or meaning of the lesson. Generally this follows an explicitly stated lesson goal and occurs towards the beginning of the learning activity. It is important that the communicated purpose makes a connection between the learning and the students real life so that it actually is purposeful for students. In order to do this, teachers must make sure they have made it a priority to know their students and develop relationships with them.

For teachers and students engaging in remote learning, communicating the purpose is just as important. Teachers might choose to include the Purpose on a slide immediately following a slide with the Learning Goal. They could have students chat in their thoughts on the purpose and then highlight one or two meaningful responses to the whole group. Most importantly, teachers should ensure that students are not left wondering how what they are doing is connected to their life.

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Download a summary of the EdConnective Thrive Framework here. EdConnective provides 1:1, personalized non-evaluative coaching to teachers, instructional coaches, and administrators, as well as small group coaching and large group training.

Tamara Hoey