Assistant Principal - Learning

 

An Introduction to Student Led Conferencing at O’Connor Catholic College for our Year 7 and new students’ Parents and Caregivers 

What exactly is student-led conferencing?

It is a student-led open discussion with parents about their learning successes and challenges supported collaboratively by their PAC teacher.

How does this differ from Parent/Teacher interviews?

The difference lies in the word ‘interview’: typically in a Parent/Teacher interview, the parent questions the teacher in regards to the progress of their child. Consider these interviews though - is the progress in the learning, or is it in the student’s compliance and ‘fitting’ to an expectation? 

Why should we have student-led conferencing?

It is critical that we more than react to the demands of our world including instant mass communication, technological advancements, social disruption, and change - constant change. We need to promote and unlock our students’ potential through the building of leadership, innovation, and creativity so that our students can be confident to truly make a difference in our world.

Impact

While there are myriad positive impacts, all fall into the three areas of metacognition; social learning; and engagement. If our students can reflect on and articulate how they learn and why they can they can then identify steps to move their learning forward which leads to greater resilience. If they can take the lead in a conference, they learn the skills to plan effectively, prioritise information, articulate eloquently and represent themselves in a mature and professional manner. If they have ownership in their learning then they are engaged.

Student-led parent-teacher conferences encourage students be proactive in their learning experiences. It is their voice that leads discussions around where they are at in their learning, their progress, their social and academic challenges and successes, and how to improve. Together with the parents and teachers, they identify their goals for the next learning period and stategise as to how best they can reach these goals. This kind of open dialogue can be only positive, as it is the student who leads. It’s not possible to ‘give’ this kind of ownership and self-determination...the students need to develop the skills that enhance ownership and self-determination. As O’Connor is a learning community founded on faith, and focused on learning working collaboratively to enhance the learning for all, our students are developing the skills to be empowered people ready to make a difference in our world.

We know that student voice isn’t about choice, it’s about authentic engagement and inclusivity. It is about showing our vulnerabilities, to reflect on our challenges and successes, together. Because, quite simply, in doing this...we open ourselves up to feedback and as a result, we are open to growth...LEARNING GROWTH!

If we want meaningful and lasting improvement in the academic performance of our students, then we need to involve them directly in the learning process, including the assessment of their learning acquisition. But teachers and students cannot do this alone, we need you. Parents and caregivers are integral to the success of our students. All the preparation our students and Pastoral and Academic Care teachers have put into these conferences to identify individual student’s learning challenges and success over the past semester has been with purpose. This process is meaningful...it is authentic and it is inclusive - only it is more so with you. 

• If you have a child in Stage 4, your student-led conferences will be during Week 3. Make sure to book a time with your child’s PAC teachers.

Please make the time to join with your child’s Pastoral and Academic Care teacher, and participate in the conference experience, led by your child, to gain new insights into your child’s learning journey.

Eli Simpson

Assistant Principal (Learning)