Final Wrap Up
Hello everyone!
I cannot believe the day has come, but we have made it to the last blog post. This week, as I have collected my final data, I have begun to formulate my final presentation and findings. Overall, I have observed some interesting takeaways.
First off, I noticed that Mr. Klugman’s class polarization changed significantly between each survey, becoming narrower at first then expanding back out at the end. This detail made me realize the complexity of our current political situation, and that the goal is not necessary to become less polarized in our thoughts but rather less polarized in our behavior. This is to say… we don’t have to agree to be civil with one another.
That thought brings me to the second survey I have been collecting throughout this cycle: students willingness to speak out in the classroom. Given that this data continued to reflect positive values (students DID feel comfortable in the classroom), this balance of existing with other beliefs and thoughts overall tended to not make students uncomfortable. Ultimately, this survey, I believe, is the most important for teachers going forward, so that they can ensure their classroom feels safe to openly and freely express their thoughts and beliefs.
Another takeaway I found was that Mr. Klugman’s classroom changed significantly more than Mr. Hermann’s. This points us to how the size and age of the classroom operates. From more than just the quantitative measurements, I observed that Mr. Hermann’s students were overall less receptive to change—some of them even finding the exercise of playing as a “stakeholder” more difficult than the 9th graders. Ultimately, we should take this as an indication that these seminars might be more meaningful in younger grades or at least should start earlier.
While these are only a few takeaways now, I cannot wait to see you all Saturday to share more!
Wishing you well,
Cameron