Negotiating Student Centered Learning

"The Four Negotiables of Student Centered Learning" in Peter Pappas's blog is an excellent starting point for teachers to consider and reconsider how students' voices can be heard in the classroom. Teachers are often looking for the student voice that indicates he "got it," i.e. the voice that affirms that the objectives in the lesson were understood. Why not have your class be more of a Socratic forum for learning in which students deliberate which areas of content and skills need to be studied in depth; which types of products that would demonstrate learning; and guidelines for assessment. I've seen countless numbers of high-school students dissect rubrics, trying to figure out the minimum required steps to get a C or a B. I've even asked several students why they don't shoot for an A. The bored look on their face says it all: What for? We have to respect our students' intellect, ability, and natural curiosity. Engagement begins with willful participation. It's not a power struggle so much as it's a "buy in" process in which students propose how best to tackle the learning objectives. Teachers can't negotiate what has to be learned, but they can allow students to help mold the learning process.