Encouraging Open Communication in the Classroom

Yesterday, a student in my class candidly shared with me some of their go-to AI resources. That openness was a big moment for me—not because of the tools themselves, but because it showed me that they felt comfortable enough to talk freely about how they’re using AI in their work. It’s a sign that the trust we’ve been building in the classroom is paying off. When students start sharing how they’re leveraging AI without hesitation, you know the atmosphere you’ve created supports real learning and growth. Trust is the cornerstone of effective AI integration. Here are five ways I’ve worked to cultivate that trust: Be Transparent About AI’s Role: I’m upfront about how AI fits into our learning goals. I set clear guidelines but also explain the reasoning behind them, so students see AI as a supportive tool, not a replacement for their thinking. Show Vulnerability: I let students know that I’m also figuring things out as we go. By being honest about the learning curve I’m experiencing, I encourage them to be open about their own challenges and discoveries. Encourage Real-Time Conversations: When students mention how they’ve used AI, I don’t just nod and move on—I dive in. We talk through what worked, what didn’t, and how they approached it. This normalizes AI use and turns it into a shared learning experience. Celebrate Their Process: Whether they successfully apply AI or run into challenges, I make sure to recognize their efforts. This reinforces that AI is a tool for growth and experimentation, not just a quick fix. Model Responsible AI Use: I regularly demonstrate how I incorporate AI in my own work. When students see me using AI thoughtfully, they’re more likely to adopt similar practices, knowing that the tools have a real, practical role in our classroom. In the end, trust allows AI to become more than just another tool—it becomes part of a larger dialogue about learning, creativity, and innovation. And when students trust the process, they engage with AI more confidently and effectively. Amanda Bickerstaff Aco Momcilovic Brian Schoch Christina B. 👨🏫🤖 "Dr. Greg" Loughnane Goutham Kurra Iulia Nandrea Mike Kentz Michael Spencer Milly Snelling Anna Mills David H.

By the time students get to my classroom, they've been through 12+ years of compliance-minded education. My goal is to give them a different model. I ask them to "build in public." This means: ► Viewing the class as a community ► Being open to constructive feedback ► Embracing the messiness of learning ► Seeing their contributions as prototypes ► Approaching the classroom as a collaborative space But that's pretty abstract. So here are 3 specific ways I encourage a "build in public" mindset. 1️⃣ Open Assignments → Sometimes I ask my students just to share their ideas. → They can do this however they want (text, video, audio, image). → I want my students to embrace learning as an exploratory process 2️⃣ Designing Process-Based Assessments → I shift focus from the product to the process. → I ask students to submit Processfolios and self-reflections. 3️⃣ I Give Students Agency Over the Course → We build things together. → This gives them a model to work with. ----------------- Most importantly, the "building in public" model pushes against the idea (which many of my students have been taught) that learning only happens in isolation. It's not true. Learning is often a social practice. It asks us to be vulnerable because that vulnerability is essential to our humanity. It asks us to genuinely connect with others. It asks us to embrace the difficulty of doing things ourselves, even if we could easily hand over those things to AI. Speaking isn't just a way of communicating ideas. It's a way to work through our ideas. Writing isn't just a way of expressing our emotions. It's a way to work through our emotions.

Students who are seen and not heard are students who don’t learn. In the classroom, students should be talking 80% of the time. Here’s why: Students learn when they are speaking. 🗣️ As educators, we need to shift the focus from our voice to their voices. We can guide them, but the real magic happens when they engage in: -conversation -problem-solving -collaborative learning But the above is easier said than done, I know - especially if our current lesson plans and models focus more on our voices. Here are a few evidence-based instructional practices for educators who want to make an intentional shift: 1. Revise your lesson plans. First define whether it’s  a grammar lesson or a comprehension lesson. If it's a comprehension-focused lesson, prioritize communication over perfection. Don’t correct every mistake you hear or observe - that can disrupt the flow and impede learning. But in a grammar lesson, corrections are essential as the focus is on accuracy. Then ask yourself: How can I foster a conversation around this topic? 2. Break students into small groups of 2 or 3 and assign speaking roles. Start with the English speaker with the most experience, allowing other students time to observe. 3. Incorporate tangible items. Give students something to talk about, like a picture or object. Ask them to walk around, discuss, and write down their thoughts. 4. Set time limits. Teachers should speak 20% of the time or less. Time your instructions, repeat key points, model, then let them do the work. Think of yourself as the facilitator, not the lecturer. 5. Observe your students. Walk around, listen, and note where your students struggle and excel. This informs your next steps in supporting their language development. To the other educators out there - any other evidence-based practices you’d offer on this subject? #EducationEquity #LanguageLearning #CulturalHeritage #LanguageLiteracy

Implementing discussion strategies in the classroom enhances critical thinking, collaboration, and communication skills, fostering a dynamic learning environment where students feel valued and engaged. When students actively participate in discussions, they develop deeper comprehension, learn to articulate their thoughts clearly, and build social-emotional skills that support respectful dialogue. To make discussions fun and engaging, consider interactive methods like Think-Pair-Share, where students first reflect independently, discuss with a partner, and then share with the class this structure builds confidence while encouraging participation. Storytelling circles allow students to contribute imaginative twists to a collective narrative, making learning feel like an adventure. Using games like “Would You Rather?” or mystery debates where students defend surprising viewpoints motivates children to express their ideas in a lively, playful way. Role-playing activities, like having students take on characters from history or literature, immerse them in learning while strengthening their ability to present and justify perspectives. By weaving movement, creativity, and social connection into discussions, educators can cultivate an atmosphere where every student is excited to share their voice.