What is a Student Led Conference?
A student led conference (SLC) is a meeting run by the student for his or her parents, entirely focused on the student’s recent learning.
During the conference the student presents work in different curriculum areas, discussing the process of learning and the progress made to date.
Why Have Student Led Conferences?
Research shows that one of the ways to improve student achievement is developing students’ ability to talk about their learning and their progress - it makes a difference.
Professor John Hattie published a revised list of the most effective influences on student achievement which identifies student self - reporting as the most significant indicator linked to raised student achievement. Two other international researchers, Black & Wiliam further comment, “the process of students reflecting on their learning, through effective questioning that promotes the articulation of student thinking, is integral to classroom assessment practices that enhance student learning.”
‘If the focus is to be kept on learning, and the ownership of the learning with the child, then the best person to talk about the learning is the learner’... ‘Not only is the student the best person to tell their parents what they have learnt, but if we believe that students build their knowledge by communicating what they know, then providing an opportunity for the students to tell their family what they know can significantly assist with that learning.' Absolum, (2006)
Absolum, M (2006) Clarity in the Classroom Auckland Hodder
Black, P & Wiliam, D (1998) Inside the Black Box: Raising standards through classroom assessment. Phi Delta Kappan, October, 139-148
Hattie, J. (2009) Visible Learning: A synthesis of over 800 meta-analyses relating to achievement. New York: Routledge