One thing I would add to the list above is authentic communication. All too often we teachers are asking fake questions (i.e. asking a question even though we already know the answer) A typical fake question is for example: “what is the weather like today?”, because you most likely did not spend your night at school, and have already been exposed to the outdoor and fresh air, and thus know what the weather looks like. An authentic question could include inquiring the student’s opinion or her/his understanding, and of course is an open-ended question instead of a simple yes/no, right/wrong answer question.

These are great things to keep in mind whenever working with students–in and out of the classroom. We included students in a recent multi-day conference to design out-of-school programs to increase engagement in science and math. It made a huge difference that the students were full participants. Their input was invaluable. Treating the young participants as responsible members of our learning community, and having norms for the conference that encourage engagement, brought out great ideas and collaborative spirit in all.

Among the important ideas that came up, student choice and incorporating games are on this list. We need to keep these in mind whenever students learn–in class and outside of school.