More teachers are using student led activities because they;
Develop personal skills like confidence, managing groups, leadership and public speaking.
Many students are initially scared or embarrassed about taking on a leadership role in the classroom however this is a skill which will be necessary in further education and employment. Starting to develop this skill in school will help you reflect on your personality and may be influential in the path you decide to take as an adult.
Build relationships with peers in the learning environment.
Whether you like it or not you have to be with your classmates everyday in school. Sometimes you may get to work with your friends however most of the time you probably don’t. This is a reflection of what you will face as an adult - working with people you don’t really know, or like, everyday, and so the ability to build professional relationships with your peers is an important skill to develop.
Promote reflection on weaknesses.
As a teenager I was a terrible public speaker. I hated it when everyone looked at me, waiting for me to say something. The pressure would get to me - I would stutter and go bright red, stumbling my way through what I had to say as quickly as possible. Now my job is to be at the front of a room of people who stare at me but I don’t stutter and stumble. Why not? Because I reflected on my weaknesses and developed my confidence.
Encourage risk taking and build resilience.
If you prepare an activity for your classmates which you have never done before and deliver it in lesson you are taking a risk - it might go wrong or not work properly, your classmates might not understand what you want them to do, it might take a shorter or longer time than what you anticipated. However the problems you face will only make you stronger and more able to prepare something better next time, making you more resilient and confident about taking risks.
Develop resourcefulness.
Student led activities give you the opportunity to show off many skills including resourcefulness. A simple search on the internet of ‘starter activities’ will give hundreds of activities you could prepare and deliver to your class. Show your teacher something new.
Prepare students for college, university and the workplace.
When you leave school you will use the personal skills developed throughout your school life. Whether you become a chef, nurse, nuclear physicist, police officer, accountant, travel agent or bartender you will have to speak to a host of people you don’t know, work with people you don’t like, lead and follow in teams and be accountable to your boss. Student led activities give you the chance to lead and manage your peers and may show you strengths you never knew you had.
Develop personal skills like confidence, managing groups, leadership and public speaking.
Many students are initially scared or embarrassed about taking on a leadership role in the classroom however this is a skill which will be necessary in further education and employment. Starting to develop this skill in school will help you reflect on your personality and may be influential in the path you decide to take as an adult.
Build relationships with peers in the learning environment.
Whether you like it or not you have to be with your classmates everyday in school. Sometimes you may get to work with your friends however most of the time you probably don’t. This is a reflection of what you will face as an adult - working with people you don’t really know, or like, everyday, and so the ability to build professional relationships with your peers is an important skill to develop.
Promote reflection on weaknesses.
As a teenager I was a terrible public speaker. I hated it when everyone looked at me, waiting for me to say something. The pressure would get to me - I would stutter and go bright red, stumbling my way through what I had to say as quickly as possible. Now my job is to be at the front of a room of people who stare at me but I don’t stutter and stumble. Why not? Because I reflected on my weaknesses and developed my confidence.
Encourage risk taking and build resilience.
If you prepare an activity for your classmates which you have never done before and deliver it in lesson you are taking a risk - it might go wrong or not work properly, your classmates might not understand what you want them to do, it might take a shorter or longer time than what you anticipated. However the problems you face will only make you stronger and more able to prepare something better next time, making you more resilient and confident about taking risks.
Develop resourcefulness.
Student led activities give you the opportunity to show off many skills including resourcefulness. A simple search on the internet of ‘starter activities’ will give hundreds of activities you could prepare and deliver to your class. Show your teacher something new.
Prepare students for college, university and the workplace.
When you leave school you will use the personal skills developed throughout your school life. Whether you become a chef, nurse, nuclear physicist, police officer, accountant, travel agent or bartender you will have to speak to a host of people you don’t know, work with people you don’t like, lead and follow in teams and be accountable to your boss. Student led activities give you the chance to lead and manage your peers and may show you strengths you never knew you had.