What is Student Voice?

To external observers students can be quite open about their experiences within school.  We need to listen to their views on the educational experience. We can find out what is working in school, and what is not working for the students.  We also discover what we need to improve upon for students to be actively engaged in learning.  Research has shown that students do not like learning experiences that are not relevant to their lives.  ( http://www.newhorizons.org/voices/unger.htm )

The new science curriculum was not conceived from the needs and desires of teachers and educators.  It was the product of an extensive listening experience and research into the views of students .  The new courses, such as 21st Century Science, have so far proved to be a success, relating the everyday experiences of  the modern world to the study of science, in social and cultural contexts, and within the global community..

There is unlikely be a final solution to match the needs of all students, since the world is always changing and the science curriculum is still driven from a top-down approach.  However, we can still listen and act upon their concerns, so that the education they receive is both relevant and meaningful in this modern, global community.