Installment One
How A Systematic Approach To Teaching Independence Closes The Gap Between Knowledge And Skills
Incapable to Innovative
For students, innovative control of new knowledge, behaviors and skills is critical.
But, when completion trumps productive struggle, independence is often the first casualty.
Let’s put the power of proactive data back into teachers’ hands and see how to leverage interdependence as a systematic tool for student success.
Interdependence manifests itself in a variety of ways. Let’s look at one short classroom example to see how we can begin building independence and sustainability for all students.
Ms. Kady has just finished demonstrating how to solve a multi-step algebra problem to find the value of an unknown variable. She asked her students to attempt solving a similar problem with a partner. She walks around the room to offer support. At the first table, Ms. Kady is met with a pair of students who have nothing written yet on their paper.
The conversation continues, with Ms. Kady telling the students each step of the problem. At each step, errors are made that need to be corrected. After several minutes the students complete the problem. It is correct, but they were unable to complete a single aspect of the skill correctly, even with the support of their teacher.
Though the task was completed accurately, we can’t say that the students have learned a new skill
All that we know is that they are learning.
This isn’t to say that this phase of interdependence isn’t valuable. In fact, it is vital for a certain cross-section of students.
What if “Not Yet Capable” is skipped?
The student feels stuck in this phase. If pushed too quickly out of this phase, early failures will solidify a belief that the targeted skill is ineffective, unneeded or impossible. Teaching may be blamed for the failure.
What is Gained from “Not Yet Capable”?
This phase provides initial success for most students. It often challenges the assumptions a student has about what they are capable of doing. Getting through this phase builds perseverance during the learning of future skills.
