Radical Responsibility

The Harkness Table At G.H.S.

Why a Harkness Table?Beating the System

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

A Smaller Learning Community

Limited Class Size

Conference Instruction

A Classroom Model for All Students

So… What’s this “table”?

The oval design of the table allows everyone seated at it to see the eyes of everyone else at the table, meaning no one is hiding.

A Few Physical Facts Physical connection Oval construction Exposed and protected Accessibility and visibility A part of something

greater The dinner table Conversation The Slide

There is a physical connection that the table grants among all participants in the discussion. –Peter Greer – PEA, English

Some Essentials

Community Voice Collective Thinking Collective Timing Three Times a Charm Beyond Socrates

Socrates dominated his discussions. He asked a question, a student answered, Socrates replied, and off they went. Socrates usually took an extreme, unpopular position, and after a series of questions and answers he would have the students backed into a corner and forced to agree. –Donald B. Cole—PEA, History

Student-Centered Pedagogy Reading to Writing

Discussion to Written Expression Listening

Not this Table, Not this Style

S

Harkness Method, The Oval

X X

X X

X X

X X

X X

X X

And the Slide…

Concepts to Reconcile Objective based instruction Responsive instruction Initiation-closure Individualized

instruction/Differentiation Essential questions/Concept

Based Learning/Teaching Control/Freedom Beginning where the student is

If you give them the freedom to learn, you have to trust them with it.—H. Knowles – PEA, English

Teacher Centered Essentially, all of our

classes are teacher driven, perhaps a student oriented discussion at times but nevertheless…

The traditional question and answer becomes nothing more than a game of know and tell—and hand raising is like a snap…

The Art of Listening Teacher as choreographer All discussion—based classes are not

student—centeredFrom the “Art of Listening” by Nita G. Pettigrew – PEA, English

Learning is a personal journeyWhen we understand something, we own itIdeas dear to us we have struggled to know them

Essential dynamicEgolessStand out of the wayTeacher’s task—to listen

The Nudge

“I know what I want my students to learn.”“I was active and my students, though lively,

were passive.”

What interests you about the reading today?Help me understand what you mean.Can you say more about that?What makes you think so?

Patience

Flexibility patience

We’re in charge of our own discussions.—Elizabeth ‘05

He encourages reticent kids when they have something to say but never puts them on the spot.—William ’04

The best Harkness teachers I’ve had gently steered the discussion without the class ever noticing that there are teachers at the table.—Claire ‘04

Humilitypatience

Qualitypatience

G.H.S. –The Possibilities

Harkness Classrooms A Harkness Lab The Slide—Write Ons Laptops Accessibility One table, two tables, three tables,

four A Style of Teaching for All Students

The Harkness Table at G.H.S.

Maximizing Effort

& Academic Rigor

On Harkness Teaching After working in traditional format for most of my career,

my first Harkness class was daunting. I had to discard the idea that I had to be in charge. –K. Smith – PEA Art

Students confirmed what they already suspected—teachers do not have all the answers or questions. By taking themselves more seriously they learn more about the subject and are better prepared for problem solving in later life.–R. Weatherspoon – PEA Religion

Whenever we take our seats at the table, it’s unclear what will happen. We have to have faith in each other—we truly learn more as a group than anyone of us would alone.—M. Foley – PEA History

Students on Harkness Everyone participates equally. Harkness comes with an obligation—you have

to be prepared. You are learning, not being taught. It’s

something active, not passive. At first the silences seem incredibly

awkward…then silences are meaningful—people are actually thinking.

It demands intellectual and personal integrity. Think first, then speak.

Life Long