11405 Ensuring Student Success Assessment One Research and Presentation

1. 11405Ensuring Student SuccessAssessment OneResearch and Presentation Megan L Lindenbeck S0164792

2. Does Peer Acceptance Contribute To The Success Of A Lifelong Learner? An Investigation

3. Concept/Scenario: Dimension Four Graphic Organiser Investigation • Known Or Agreed Upon: • Confusion or Contradictions: • Resolution:

4. Concept/Scenario: • Does Peer Acceptance Contribute to the • Success of a Lifelong Learner? • McDonnell (2009) states • “one of the most overwhelming negative feelings a young person can have is that of being on the outside, not being accepted, loved or respected by others. Such feelings can have a major effect on the way a young person views school, learning and life”. He goes on to state that the exclusion, teasing and bullying of students can lead beyond feelings of unhappiness and progress to the isolated student engaging in acts of violence, dropping out of school, joining gangs to feel respected and so forth.

5. Concept/Scenario: • Does Peer Acceptance Contribute to the • Success of a Lifelong Learner? Dr Mel Levine (2005, pp. xii) agrees on how significant social acceptance is for a developing child. “Intimacy and shared recreation provide stimulation and a much desired feeling of belonging’. Dr. Levine goes on to observe that social success at all levels of age and development have two common traits; ‘friendship formation and reputation management’ (pp. xii).

6. Concept/Scenario: • Does Peer Acceptance Contribute to the • Success of a Lifelong Learner? • Confusion or Contradictions: • What is success? • Are success and peer acceptance related?

7. Success What’s That? ACADEMIC Some examples OTHER Some examples • Pass marks • High pass marks • Completing assessments • Going up grades in school • Being able to read, write and count • Being able to attend school • Completing year 10 or 12 • Acceptance into post high school studies • Graduating university/ tafe • Marriage • Starting a family • Having friends • A good job that pays the bills • Owning a home • Achieving goals • Travelling • Personal expectations • Learning to cook • Learning to drive • Contributing to society in a meaningful way

8. What does the community think? Peer acceptance provides the kids with the social/emotional confidence and structures to work from... The ability to work well with others is a skill we need for all of our lives Extremely important and needs to be guided by mentors Sense of self, positive self-esteem, treated with equity, equal opportunities, realistic expectations, group process, consistency.... Peer acceptance builds positive character traits for all involved Peer acceptance helps with the tools needed to build a community

9. Are success and peer acceptance related? • According to the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts (2008, pg2), • ‘Promoting students’ social’ ‘skills is critical to improving their academic performance and their success in life... Students with better developed social and emotional skills are more likely to demonstrate higher levels of resilience, learning capacity, social skills and value’ • One overwhelming aspect of social competence is the composition of skills that a person knows how to use at the right time and right place (Reiner & Reiner, 2005. pp. xix). • Poor social skills are both the cause and effect of behavioural issues as a child ages (Lavoie, 2005).

10. Concept/Scenario: • Does Peer Acceptance Contribute to the • Success of a Lifelong Learner? • Known Or Agreed Upon: • Peer rejection causes isolation • Self-esteem can be very fragile • The skills to build healthy relationships are numerous • Social Skills are taught/ learnt • Confusion or Contradictions: • What is success? • Are success and peer acceptance related?

11. Concept/Scenario: • Does Peer Acceptance Contribute to the • Success of a Lifelong Learner? • Known Or Agreed Upon: • Peer rejection causes isolation • Self-esteem can be very fragile • The skills to build relationships are important • Social Skills are taught/ learnt • Confusion or Contradictions: • What is success? • Are success and peer acceptance related? • Resolution: • Peer acceptance does contribute to the success of a lifelong leaner.

12. Resolution • Peer Acceptance Does Affect The Success Of A Life Long Learner. • The number of programs that have been developed to encourage growth of social • skills reinforces the importance of peer acceptance to our children. What we learn, as collective tabula rasa, early in our development is often carried through with us until we depart the mortal coils on which we dwell. Developing friendships, working relationships and simply co-operating with other human beings in a positive manner are processes that we surely can’t avoid as success lifelong learners. • The area of social success and competence is a complicated one. • The elements involved in being social successful are many, it’s not as straight forward as being simply liked by your peers. What has been learnt through this investigation could be easily developed into a presentation of at least 60 minutes.

13. Resolution • How can we demonstrate the importance of this issue? • To the students and their community? • Recognising parents as learning partners is an important step in any educational facility, so providing a clear and concise model of what parents should expect their students to be exposed to in a school/ supported environment is essential. • How can we engage parental support without providing controversial confrontation? • How do we provide choices? • How can we provide knowledge without discriminating or offending? • We need to break down potential barriers by providing balanced, non-discrimatory, knowledge. To everyone!

14. Our Responsibility • Look at ourselves as learning managers NOW, not just learning management students. • Take advantage of the literature and support that is available to teachers. • Understand that social development is an area that we can’t really provide an assessment criteria sheet to forewarn and prepare our students expectations. However, we can provide activities to nurture. • It may be a cliché, but our children are our future. • Practise what we are trying to teach the children. If we expect the children to recognise and celebrate individuality, then set the example and embrace the notion ourselves.

15. Concept/Scenario: • Does Peer Acceptance Contribute to the • Success of a Lifelong Learner? • Known Or Agreed Upon: • Peer rejection causes isolation • Self-esteem can be very fragile • The skills to build relationships are important • Social Skills are taught/ learnt • Confusion or Contradictions: • What is success? • Are success and peer acceptance related? • Resolution: • Peer acceptance does contribute to the success of a lifelong leaner.

16. References Brady, L., & Kennedy, K. (2009). Celebrating Student Achievement Assessment and Reporting. Frenchs Forest: Pearsons Education Australia. Cathcart, R. (2005). They're not bringing my brain out. Understanding and working with gifted and talented learners (3rd ed.). Auckland: Hodder Education. Department of Education, Training and the Arts (2008)). Guide to social and emotional learning in Queensland state schools. Brisbane, QLD. Retrieved August 4, 2009, from Http://education.qld.gov.au/studentservices/protection/sel/pdfs/sel_booklet.pdf Lavoie, R. (2005). It's so much work to be your friend. Helping the child with learning disabilities find social success. New York: Touchstone. Levine, M. (2005). [Foreword}. In Lavoie, R. It's so much work to be your friend. Helping the child with learning disabilities find social success. (ppxi-xv). New York: Touchstone. Loreman, T., Deppeler, J., & Harvery, D. (2005). Inclusive Education. A practical guide to supporting diversity in the classroom. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.

17. References, continued... Marzano, R. J., & Pickering, D. J. (1997). Dimensions of learning. Teachers manual (2nd ed.). Alexandria: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. McDonnell, S. N. (2009). The art of caring confrontation. Educational Leadership , 66(10). Retrieved August 5, 2009, from http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/summer09/voll66/num10/The_Art_of_Caring_Confrontation.aspx Reiner, R & Reiner, M. (2005). [Preface}. In Lavoie, R. It's so much work to be your friend. Helping the child with learning disabilities find social success. (pp. xviii-xxi). New York: Touchstone. Images: Courtesy of Clipart, 2009