Kicking Students Out of The Box: Closing the Lid on Linear Thinking

There is inherently a box we all place ourselves in. A safe place where we can analyze, synthesize, and even criticize the world around us. We can leave the box open so we can hear what is going on around us or we can close it to make sure we become oblivious and hardened to our surroundings. Or, we can rip open the box and climb out tossing the box aside, allowing the melody and harmony around us to stir curiosity, spark interest, and steer us forward. Knowledge is found outside the box, in light, sound and nature. How do we get our students to choose to leave the box behind?

Flattening the box is not a easy feat. we often want to return to it when defeated and discouraged. So rather than dismantling it we often just slide it into a corner just in case. Knowing it is there, like a safety blanket. How do we get students to close the lid and walk away from the box? We bring them out slowly because to force will cause retreat. For it is always a choice. The choice to do so emerges through challenging, inquiry based experiences where staying in the box limits their thinking. Discrepant events where the box blocks their view and they are drawn outward from its shadow by wonderment.

A student-centered classroom is one step in many. When students are in charge of their learning the box is slowly pushed into the corner. The excited voice of a fellow student is intriguing. Realization that others around you are having fun and learning in new ways draws the box even further way. The box is isolating so collaborative work allows students to listen and grow from these situations. When students can share ideas it solidifies their own understanding and reassures them that what they have to offer is important. the more we belong, the more we feel connected the more the box becomes unnecessary. What types of lessons dismantle the box? Problem-solving, give students access to the makerspace to build a model, a vacuum to dismantle and reassemble, a frog to dissect, a puzzle to solve. All interactive and based on inquiry and problem solving.

Even the little things, blog posting, podcasting, stop-motion video, reflection writing all shrink the size of the box. When the box goes from one that encompasses our entire body to one where a small trinket resides, the box becomes less important, a simple container rather than a safe haven. Thinking outside the box occurs when our voice is confident, we believe in ourselves, take-risks in order to grow, and when circumstances guide us not fear or doubt. When teachers create challenging experiences students will discover impressive answers that will motivate them to go further. Independent thinking comes from seeing the box as a stepping stool not a hiding place. Let students collaborative stack their boxes and they will climb them to seek their own answers and create their own learning experiences.