Based on Alexis's best-seling book The Best Class You Never Taught (ASCD), this interactive, half-day workshop introduces participants to Spider Web Discussion, a gamechanger for educators. The best classes have a life of their own, powered by student-led conversations that explore texts, ideas, and essential questions. In these classes, the teacher's role shifts from star player to observer and coach as the students
- Think critically,
- Work collaboratively,
- Participate fully,
- Behave ethically,
- Ask and answer high-level questions,
- Support their ideas with evidence, and
- Evaluate and assess their own work.
Spider Web Discussion is a simple technique that puts this kind of class within every teacher's reach. It's proven to work across all subject areas and with all ages, and you only need a little know-how, a rubric, and paper and pencil to get started. More refined than Socratic seminar or Harkness, Spider Web Discussion offers a unique assessment strategy that empowers students to become stronger communicators, more empathetic teammates, better problem solvers, and more independent learners—college and career ready skills that serve them well in the classroom and beyond.
In this workshop, Alexis Wiggins provides a step-by-step approach for the implementation of Spider Web Discussion, covering everything from introducing the technique, to creating rubrics for discussion self-assessment, to the nuts and bolts of charting the conversations, to using the data collected for formative assessment. She also shares troubleshooting tips, ideas for assessment and group grading, and key research from experts. You will get to try the method yourself, experiencing the power of balanced collaborative inquiry from the student perspective.
Join Alexis and a group of energized participants for a workshop you won't forget!
