Visible Learning Mind Frames

John Hattie, an educational researcher, is best known for his work on meta-analyses of various influences on student achievement. From his extensive research, Hattie proposed a set of discoveries that underpin the success of some of the world’s highest-impact teachers and leaders.

1. Teachers/leaders believe that their fundamental task is to evaluate the effect of their teaching on students’ learning and achievement.
   • Example: After teaching a unit on fractions, a teacher assesses her students’ understanding not just to give grades, but to determine which teaching methods were most effective and which concepts need to be retaught.
2. Teachers/leaders believe that success and failure in student learning are about what they, as teachers or leaders, did or did not do.
   • Example: If many students failed a particular test, instead of blaming students’ lack of effort, the teacher would look at their own instructional strategies to see where improvements could be made.
3. Teachers/leaders want to talk more about the learning than the teaching.
   • Example: During a department meeting, teachers discuss the depth of students’ understanding and strategies to promote critical thinking rather than just the activities they used during lessons.
4. Teachers/leaders see assessment as feedback about their impact.
   • Example: After assessing students’ essays, a teacher realizes that many students struggled with writing strong thesis statements. The teacher sees this as feedback that they need to spend more time teaching and modeling effective thesis writing.
5. Teachers/leaders engage in dialogue not monologue.
   • Example: In the classroom, a teacher promotes discussions where students voice their thoughts and opinions, rather than the teacher being the sole source of information.
6. Teachers/leaders enjoy the challenge and never retreat to “doing their best”.
   • Example: A teacher finds that a particular student is struggling to read at grade level. Instead of accepting it as unchangeable, the teacher seeks out new interventions and strategies to help the student improve.
7. Teachers/leaders believe that it is their role to develop positive relationships in classrooms/staffrooms.
   • Example: A school leader takes time to get to know each teacher, understands their strengths and challenges, and fosters a positive school culture where everyone feels valued.
8. Teachers/leaders inform all about the language of learning.
   • Example: In a classroom, a teacher explicitly teaches students vocabulary related to critical thinking, such as “analyze,” “infer,” and “evaluate,” ensuring students understand and can use these terms in their learning.

Each of these mindframes emphasizes the proactive and reflective roles of educators. By adopting these mindframes, teachers and leaders can continually assess and adjust their practices to ensure that they are having the maximum positive impact on student learning.

John Hattie’s concept of “Mind Frames” revolves around educators’ beliefs and attitudes towards teaching and learning. When teachers adopt intentional Mind Frames, they become more effective in the classroom, being more evaluative, seeking feedback, and being more open to adapting and changing to ensure student success. Let’s explore how a platform like SLEEDU could support teachers in adopting and reinforcing these Mind Frames:

1. “I am an evaluator of my impact on student learning.”
   • Data-Driven Insights: SLEEDU can offer analytics and performance metrics that allow teachers to evaluate and measure their impact on student outcomes. These insights can inform teachers on what’s working and what needs adjustment.
2. “I see assessment as feedback to me.”
   • Immediate Feedback Loop: With platforms like SLEEDU, teachers receive real-time feedback on student performance, allowing them to adjust their teaching strategies promptly.
3. “I collaborate with my peers and share my learning.”
   • Collaborative Features: SLEEDU might offer features that allow teachers to collaborate with peers, share resources, teaching strategies, and insights on student learning. This facilitates a collective professional growth environment.
4. “I am a change agent.”
   • Adaptive Learning Environment: SLEEDU can provide tools that let teachers customize content and teaching methodologies based on student needs. This adaptability fosters an environment where teachers are continuously innovating and adapting.
5. “I strive for challenge and not merely ‘doing my best’.”
   • Professional Development Modules: If SLEEDU incorporates teacher training modules or resources, it can challenge teachers to go beyond their current teaching practices and adopt newer, more effective strategies.
6. “It’s my role to develop positive relationships in the classroom.”
   • Student Engagement Analytics: By tracking student engagement, SLEEDU can provide insights into the relational dynamics of the classroom. Teachers can identify students who might be disengaged and work on building stronger relationships with them.
7. “I inform all about the language of learning.”
   • Resource Sharing: SLEEDU could allow teachers to share learning resources, not just with students but also with parents or guardians. This ensures that everyone involved in the student’s education is on the same page, reinforcing the language and objectives of learning.

In summary, platforms like SLEEDU, when well-designed and incorporated into the educational process, can be instrumental in reinforcing intentional Mind Frames for teachers. They offer tools and insights that support teachers in their continuous journey of reflection, adaptation, and growth, always keeping the focus on maximizing student success.

The Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch system primarily focuses on creating a distraction-free learning environment by managing smartphone usage in the classroom. But its impact can indirectly support teachers in embodying and living out John Hattie’s Mind Frames. Here’s how the system could reinforce these Mind Frames:

1. “I am an evaluator of my impact on student learning.”
   • Enhanced Learning Environment: With fewer distractions, teachers can more accurately gauge the effectiveness of their teaching methods. The direct attention to teaching without smartphone disruptions offers a clearer view of their impact on students.
2. “I see assessment as feedback to me.”
   • Focused Student Feedback: In a distraction-free environment, student feedback (both verbal and non-verbal) becomes more genuine. Without phones, students’ reactions, queries, and responses become more aligned with the lesson at hand, offering genuine feedback to the educator.
3. “I collaborate with my peers and share my learning.”
   • Consistent Environment Across Classes: With all teachers implementing the Safe Pouch system, there’s a consistent environment across classrooms. This uniformity facilitates easier collaboration and sharing of best practices among teachers.
4. “I am a change agent.”
   • Proactive Problem Solving: By integrating a system like the Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch, teachers are taking proactive steps to solve a modern classroom challenge. It’s a testament to their willingness to adapt and change for the betterment of student learning.
5. “I strive for challenge and not merely ‘doing my best’.”
   • Setting High Standards: By aiming for a classroom environment where every student is fully present and engaged, teachers are not settling for the status quo. They’re challenging themselves to create the most conducive learning atmosphere possible.
6. “It’s my role to develop positive relationships in the classroom.”
   • Increased Face-to-Face Interactions: With smartphones out of the immediate picture, teachers can foster deeper connections and more personal interactions with students, strengthening the student-teacher bond.
7. “I inform all about the language of learning.”
   • Unified Classroom Culture: The introduction and consistent application of the Safe Pouch system set clear expectations and norms about the classroom environment. It serves as a tangible representation of the classroom’s culture and values, showing students, peers, and parents the importance placed on focused learning.

In essence, the Multi-Tiered Safe Pouch system, while primarily a tool for classroom management, can be a significant ally in reinforcing and embodying the intentional Mind Frames that teachers strive to uphold. It aligns classroom practices with broader educational philosophies and goals.