2024 Thrive 2 - Unpacking the 5A in the classroom

Atmosphere - this term, I tried each boy's seat beside each girl in terms of seating arrangement, and the tone of the class was quite different as compared to when the boys and girls were seated together.  They asked why the boy and girl were seat together. I said it is because men and women think differently and it is needed for innovation. They believe it without any challenge. As a researcher, I double-checked "for a panel data of 231 European listed firms and based on GMM analysis, show that a critical mass of women positively affects firm performance, and that this effect increases as the firm’s innovation activity increases." (Cabeza-García et al.,2021, p.501). 

Attention is tested rather than expected. Students were given to watch the deep dive ideo video. It was paused to check if they "caught" what had been said. Nobody catches it. One girl suggested having a caption on. Thereafter, dipstick check, students can understand. They read off the caption. One student Y has low attention. One student W has a "sparkling eye" (curiosity to know more, raising a hand to seek feedback). I explained to them that if there is something that does not work in class, they have the responsibility to communicate.

The attitude towards what others have to say. Students are students, they talk when I talk. When I sit down and say. When I talk, I hope that I am being respected. And this respect is not only for me, it is for others who want to learn and do well, we have to respect others' right to learn. In this part, they catch on fast. They are quiet when I talk. However, when I asked questions and others gave their answers, the attitude was that "it is none of my business". The attitude towards what others had to say is guided by the KB principle of "democratizing knowledge" - everyone is a legitimate contributor. I, as the teacher not the knowledge provider, their friends' contribution ought to be given weight. In this part, they did not catch on fast. They are still students not paying attention to what others have to say. In the ideo video, all designers are legitimate contributors.  

How does attire affect learning? "Teachers' attire influences children's psychology such as learning ability, motivation, discipline, working style, or attitudes (Freeburg et al., 2011)." I forget to do a systemic attire check this round. They appear well-attired. How about students' attire? It has been taken for granted the effect of school uniforms on learning. It is more to overcome the negative effect of not wearing school uniforms when fashion distracts students from learning. But the is a case that I can make. Y who has difficulty paying attention was in a school t-shirt. It is not causal but may be correlated. Your attire represents your state of management of self. 

Attendance is about punctuality. Not an issue as we pick them up for the first lesson.

[Meta-reflection: Study cited has not been critically examined in terms of its methodology]

Cabeza-García, L., Del Brío, E.B. & Rueda, C. The moderating effect of innovation on the gender and performance relationship in the outset of the gender revolution. Rev Manag Sci 15, 755–778 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11846-019-00367-y

Freeburg, B. W., Workman, J. E., Arnett, S. E., and Robinson, J. R. (2011). Rationales and norms for teacher dress codes: a review of employee handbooks. NASSP Bull. 95, 31–45. doi: 10.1177/0192636511405514