Abstract

As educators, the way we say things can influence understanding, curiosity, motivation and engagement. The small choices we make, while speaking, can change the direction and trajectory of conversations with our students for better or for worse. But how often do we think about this and make those deliberate choices? How we speak is driven by how we think. This talk is about intentionality, interpretation, self-awareness, choice and ultimately the difference between what we say and how we say it.

Session and activities

I am proposing a paper, but would also be open to doing this as a workshop, panel discussion or lightning talk. I would be happy to design practical activities around this as well, to help educators work with these concepts in practice.

I am still developing the specifics and would be open to some adaptations, but the key points I will be exploring are:

• Context around voice, how we speak and how it can impact our lives professionally and personally
• A brief background of my own professional experience, as well as my previous (non-academic) corporate research on how voice influences decision-making
• Thinking about the impact of how educators use their voice in different teaching and learning situations
• What difficult situations may look like, for example, visible disengagement from students, providing challenging feedback, receiving challenging feedback and disagreement with colleagues and/or students
• Data from my current academic research with educators on their actual experiences with voice in the context of teaching and learning
• Self-awareness and the various influences and factors that can impact how we speak
• The use of deliberate choice, practice and reflection in order to reach better outcomes and a deeper sense of satisfaction
• What this can look like in education and how this can look for the individual
• Time and cost of not considering voice.