Congenerative Dialogues:

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Congenerative Dialogues

• A Tool For Change in the Science Classroom
• By Michele Dixon

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What are Cogenerative Dialogues?

• Conversations about a shared experience between
  participants.
• Goal driven to define problem and implement
  changes collectively.
• Guided by Criteria of rules.
• Collaborative resolutions.
• Reflective outcomes.

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Setting Up

• Video tape a lesson
• Create clips of segments of lesson

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Picking A Group

• Small to permit all to speak and be heard
• Select participants based on differences of
  achievement level, race, or gender
• Students should want to participate and dont
  feel obligated

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Starting the Conversation

• Explain the project goals and invite
  students to participate
• We are all here to learn something.
• We are learning from one another and will share
  what we have learned.
• We want to change things when we can make a
  positive difference in teaching and learning in
  our classroom.
• We are trying to make sure no one is hurt.
• What happens in Cogen stays in Cogen

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Identifying A Need For Change

• Students view clips of segments from the lesson.
• Write down observations on clipboards.
• Talk about what we observed.

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Creating A Solution

• Teacher and students work together, share
  ideas, and collectively come up with a plan of
  action.

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Implementing the Solution

• Students present the plan of action to
  classmates.

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Enacting the Plan

• Class tries the idea.

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Analyze Video

• Cogen group watches selves, class, and lesson
  for indicators of change

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Reflection

• Cogen group discusses observations and
  collectively decides next steps.

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Benefits for Teachers

• Learn from others about their practice.
• Identify practices about self which may not be
  aware.
• Perspective of others become object of
  reflection.
• Learn a new way to give and gain respect from
  students.

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Outcomes

• Improved learning environment.
• Improved strategies for teaching everyone in the
  science classroom.
• Collective responsibility for creating change in
  science class.

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Thanks Room 219!

• Students are not subjects in Cogen studies!
  They are also the researchers!