Student+Led+Conferences

=What are Student-Led Conferences (SLC)?=

Student-led conferences (SLC) will be in April 2011. They will give you an opportunity to think and talk about your education with your parents. You'll invite your parent to a 30-45 minute meeting to talk about your educational goals and your progress in meeting those goals.

Here is a video that gives you an idea of what the SLC will be like: SLC Video.

Before the SLC

 * You will think about your strengths and weaknesses in your subject areas according to competencies: communcation, teamwork, problem-solving, use of numbers and data and use of technology.
 * You will set goals to improve your skills in the competencies.
 * You will work with your teachers and advisors to select and analyze (self-assess) specific pieces of work to put into your portfolio. You will also analyze your work according to how it shows your growth in the competency areas.
 * You will work with your advisors to create and organize their portfolios in preparation for the Student-Led Conferences.
 * You'll invite your parents to your SLC.
 * You'll work with your advisor to create an agenda (list of things you'll talk about).

During the SLC

 * You'll welcome your parent(s) and share the agenda with them.
 * You'll share your educational goals and present your portfolio to show your understanding of what you learned this year and your progress in the competencies.
 * You'll talk to your parents and ask them to help you decide what you can do and what they can do to help you move closer to your goals next year.

After the SLC

 * You and your parents will complete a survey about your SLC experience.
 * You'll do a final reflection on your SLC and start a plan for next school year's SLC work.

=Setting Goals= To prepare for SLC, you will be creating a portfolio with work from all of your classes. The portfolio will show your growth in the following competencies (areas):

Competencies

 * Communication - the exchange of thoughts and ideas in different ways
 * Teamwork - working with others toward a common goal
 * Problem-solving - using strategies to develop solutions
 * Use of Numbers and Data - analyzing and using information
 * Use of Technology - using different learning tools effectively and responsibly

To be able to show how you have improved or grown in the competencies, you will be asked to set goals for each competency on this form:

To do that, you first have to think about what your **strengths** and **weaknesses** are in each competency. Please use the two examples below as models of how to identify your strengths and weaknesses in the competencies.

Example 2


Next, you'll need to think of steps that you can take to help you reach your competency goal using this form:.

Monitoring Goals
Each quarter we will reflect on your report card grades, work habits and progress toward your competency goals using this form:.

Preparing for the SLC
In the weeks before the SLC, you will work with your teachers and advisor to select pieces for your final portfolio. Hopefully, these pieces will show the progress you have made throughout the year in the competencies and help you share the learning you have accomplished this year.

You will also work with a partner in advisory to practice your presentation. You and your partner will share observations and suggestions for each other's presentation.