I. Student Agency in Assessment
C. Strategies for promoting student agency in assessment
3) Student-led conferences
3) Student-led conferences
Student-led conferences are meetings where students take the lead in discussing their learning progress with teachers and parents. These conferences allow students to reflect on their achievements, challenges, and goals, and empower them to take ownership of their learning. The conferences are based on constructivist learning and social interaction theory, providing students with the opportunity to actively construct and refine their understanding of their own learning through dialogue with others.
BASIC Information
Student-led conferences are meetings in which students take the primary role in discussing their learning progress with teachers and often parents.
These conferences allow students to reflect on, articulate, and showcase their achievements, challenges, and goals.
By centering the student, these conferences transform the traditional parent-teacher meeting into an active demonstration of student ownership over learning.
INTERMEDIATE Information
Role Reversal: Unlike traditional conferences, students are the main speakers, guiding the conversation and answering questions about their learning.
Preparation: Students spend time gathering artifacts, creating portfolios, and reflecting on their learning to present during the conference.
Empowerment and Reflection: The process fosters a deeper sense of responsibility and allows students to engage in meaningful reflection about their learning journey.
ADVANCED Information
Constructivist Learning: The conference becomes a space where students actively construct and reconstruct their understanding of their learning.
Social Interaction Theory (Vygotsky): Through dialogue with others, students refine and deepen their understanding of their own learning.
Digital Portfolios: Students can use digital tools to curate and present their learning artifacts, reflecting growth over time.
Guided Reflection Templates: Providing students with structured templates to help them think through and articulate their progress, challenges, and goals.
Role-playing Activities: Before the actual conference, students can practice with peers, rehearsing how to present and discuss their learning.