After discussion with Tom Barrett on one of our regular chats which range from the depths of pedagogical process to our favourite music, I started using a much more specific set of learning intentions. I have always talked about learning intentions in terms of what we hope to know and the skills we hope to develop, but after talking to Tom about mindset (à la Dweck et al) and knowledge sets, he told me about the use of the terms skillset and toolset in business. This resonated greatly with me, so the very next day I started talking with kids not only about the not only the knowledge we were aiming to learn or unlearn (another very intersting concept of deconstruction which you can read about here) but also the skillset, mindset and toolset that we were going to develop. Moreover, this really helped me to focus on the difference between the demonstration phase of our learning cycle (showing what you know) and the reflection phase of our learning cycle (thinking about how you have grown as a learner).
Moreover, when talking about learning intentions it makes it so much easier to co-construct them with the kids when we are talking about more than just the what of what we are learning, but also the how, the approach and the tools. Here is an example from a recent "Learn2" lesson:
Using this tool to reflect on learning with kids in an Emerging Technology lesson really showed me, my co-teacher and most importantly the learners, just how much transferable learning can be when made visible.
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