The Influence of Student-Led Conferences on Communication and Dialogue with Parents

Abstract

A sixth-grade World Cultures teacher created a system of dialogue where students reflected on their growth throughout a unit/semester and passed ownership from parents/teachers taking responsibility for assessment of student growth to students taking ownership of their reflection in the Project-Based Learning (PBL) process. The teacher wanted to understand the relationship between participation in student-led conferences/conversations and student agency in the reflection of individual progress. Data included student/family pre-conference notes, conference videos, and student/parent surveys. She found that having the student-led conference transferred ownership of personal habits of work to the students, and the structure of a student-led conference was an effective way for families to connect with their students.