Return-Path: <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Received: from literacy (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by literacy.nifl.gov (8.10.2/8.10.2) with SMTP id g0RIMvn05913; Sun, 27 Jan 2002 13:22:57 -0500 (EST) Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 13:22:57 -0500 (EST) Message-Id: <5.1.0.14.0.20020127122545.01dafec0@mailserv.nald.ca> Errors-To: listowner@literacy.nifl.gov Reply-To: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Originator: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Sender: nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov Precedence: bulk From: Sylvia Provenski <SylviaProvenski@nald.ca> To: Multiple recipients of list <nifl-4eff@literacy.nifl.gov> Subject: [NIFL-4EFF:1994] Re: EFF and GED classrooms X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="==_18193485909498==_" X-Mailer: QUALCOMM Windows Eudora Version 5.1 Status: O Content-Length: 8485 Lines: 173 Content-Type: multipart/alternative; boundary="=====================_11878540==_.ALT" Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed Jeffery, Thank you very much for you response. I can see how an exercise like this can really bring students together. So often they feel like they are the only ones in their community that need to upgrade and/or complete their high school diplomas. When they hear all the other stories they realize that they are part of a larger community with the same needs and wants. I do have a copy of the Master student. Thanks, Sylvia P. At 10:43 PM 26/01/02 -0500, you wrote: >Sylvia > >I'm not really sure where it came from, I was introduced to this by the >Dean at a former college where I taught. Basically, I start out the >discussion by asking the students to take some paper and answer the >following question. "Why did you decide to come to school?" I tell the >students that I will give them two minutes to write their answers at which >time I would like ask for volunteers to read their answers aloud to the >rest of the class. After which, I ask them to then write, in reference to >their previous answer "Why is this important to you?" The process is >repeated with the follow-up question being the same "Why is this important >to you?" The group dynamics is always differen, but generally if I am >reassuring, and the students feel that they are in a safe environment, >they will share their stories. Most of the time I cannot even get to the >5th why as the stories are so personal. Some people become very emotional, >but ALWAYS it has turned out to be a positive experience. People share, >bond, sympathize, and a group of strangers become aquainted and >become...my class! I become their teacher! > >There are so many interesting anetodecal moments I could share with this, >but generically I have found that after the first round of "sharing", more >students decide to open up and read what they have written. Even if I am >on the 3rd Why, I will ask the student to go back and read their answers >from the begining of the first question. I usually couple this with asking >the students to use this as a part of their journal, including this in >part of an essay in which they use "Discovery" and "Intention" >statements. (Discovery and Intention statements are introduced and used >in the Master Student by Ellis) > >As I mentioned this allows students to go beyond the superficial, and can >be the first step in the goal setting process. The experience clarifies >the purpose for learning for individuals, and the shared experience seems >to heighten awareness and resolve for the rest of the class as >well. Subsequently, the students, now stating why they want to learn, can >focus on what they want to learn, setting short and long term goals. > >I hope this helps, perhaps someone will find the original lesson plan and >author for this. I'm not sure if the "5 Whys" was originally designed for >use as part of a goal setting process, but it is a very powerful tool, and >experience. This excercise seems to fit well in the EFF goal setting process. > >Jeffery Parham >ABE/GED Instructor >Pre-College Studies and Academic Support Program >Highline Community College >2400 S. 240th St. P.O. Box 98000 MS 19-1 >Des Moines, WA 98198-9800 >Tel. 206-878-3710 Ext. 6210 >Fax 206-870-4852 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline NTMail K12 - the Mail Server for Education
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