How to Create a Schoolwide Culture of Critique

TL;DR

To create a schoolwide culture of critique, implement the Six Thinking Hats protocol, which provides a structured way for students to give and receive feedback. This approach promotes effective communication and enhances self-directed learning, ensuring that critique is viewed as a valuable tool for improvement rather than a personal attack.

Transcript

Pat: Each hat has a color, right? Red is a feeling. Who can give me a red hat for this? >>Student: When I first saw this, I thought about volcanoes, because of like, all the orange. I think it seems really interesting. >>Pat: Okay, so it draws you in, right? >>Nichole: Having critique in the language be school-wide, it builds consistency for the ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ The Six Thinking Hats protocol provides a common language for feedback, ensuring consistency and clarity.
• 📞 Critique skills, such as effective communication and receiving feedback without personal bias, are valuable lifelong skills.
• 🧑‍🎓 Specific criteria for feedback, such as clear directions, help students target areas for improvement.
• 💦 Receiving feedback empowers students to take ownership of their work and make meaningful changes.
• 💦 Creating a culture of critique in schools promotes value and growth in student work.
• 🤠 Providing constructive feedback through different hats ensures feedback covers various aspects of the work.
• 🤗 Critique sessions open the door for students to share and learn from each other, fostering a collaborative environment.

Questions & Answers

Q: What is the purpose of the Six Thinking Hats protocol?

The Six Thinking Hats protocol provides a consistent framework for giving and receiving feedback by assigning each hat a specific aspect of feedback, such as positive feedback, suggestions, or clarifications.

Q: How does the school ensure consistency in feedback across different classes?

By using the language of the Six Thinking Hats protocol school-wide, students can receive feedback from any class using the same criteria, which builds consistency and helps students improve their work.

Q: Why is setting specific criteria for feedback important?

Setting specific criteria, such as clear directions with a specific number of steps, helps students focus their feedback on targeted areas for improvement and ensures they provide valuable insights to their peers.

Q: How does receiving feedback benefit students?

Receiving feedback allows students to see what they need to change or improve in their work, providing clarity and guidance for self-directed growth. It fosters a growth mindset and encourages students to take risks.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The school values critique as a means for students to learn how to be successful in the real world and accepts and gives feedback.

• The Six Thinking Hats protocol is used to provide feedback, with each hat representing a different aspect of feedback.

• Students engage in critique sessions, focusing on yellow hat (positive feedback) and green hat (suggestions) feedback to improve their work.