Radical Responsibility

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Radical Responsibility

• The Harkness Method
• At G.H.S.

An Update
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The Harkness Initiative

• What I have in mind is (a classroom) where
  (students) could sit around a table with a
  teacher who would talk with them, and instruct
  them by a sort of tutorial or conference method,
  where (each student) would feel encouraged to
  speak up. This would be a real revolution in
  methods.
• Edward Harkness

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Student Data- In Their Words
I feel as if we are learning to learn. My
classmates seem to be intellectually
energized. Students learn from each other and not
just the teacher. We trust our classmates to tell
us if were off track but also to help our ideas
grow if theyre good. Everyone at the table is an
equal.
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Student Data- In Their Words

• I love starting class with the faintest concept
  of an idea, throwing it out and letting my
  class-mates pounce on it, chew it, and devour it
  until it comes out as something full of force.
• The table changes learning entirely as it calls
  for students to dictate what to explore and how
  to go about it.
• The participation comes when each student is
  ready, and this is the greatest aspect.

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Student Data- In Their Words

• There was a moment when no one was speakingwe
  reflected in silence. I saw puzzled expressions,
  then one student had an epiphany and sent the
  conversation in a whole new direction.
• This is an effective learning tool that propels
  education to a new level.
• We have definitely learned. Is that not the point
  of education?

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Principles of Learning
Honors English II class discussing A Catcher in
the Rye around the table. February 7, 2008

• What you should see ACCOUNTABLE TALK
• Accountability to the Learning Community
• Actively participating in classroom discussion
• Listening attentively
• Elaborating on each others ideas
• Working to clarify
• Accountability to Knowledge
• Specific and accurate information
• Evidence from the text
• Getting it right
• Accountability to Rigorous Thinking
• Constructing explanations from the text

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In Action
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Principles of Learning
AP Literature and Composition discussing Their
Eyes Were Watching God around the table, February
7, 2008

• Accountable Talk
• Self-Management of Learning
• Learning as Apprenticeship
• Academic Rigor in a Thinking Curriculum

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Harkness Method, The Oval
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G.H.S. The Possibilities

• Harkness Classrooms
• A Harkness Lab
• The SlideWrite Ons
• Laptops Accessibility
• One table, two tables, three tables, four
• A Style of Teaching for All Students