What are the best ways to use the compare feature of Rank & Reason?

• Compare generates higher-level discussion
• Compare can focus the discussion
• Compare teaches respect for the perspective or point of view of peers

An Insightful Discussion is a Rehearsal for Deep Learning

We’ve all experienced a discussion that simply goes flat. The students are quiet or staring or looking around and no matter how we reframe the question or prompt, the Classroom World is not chugging to the World of Insight. We wonder whether the problem is the question, if the students need more background, or if it’s just the planets are not aligned today.

The truth is that students need a discussion tool that gets them to think beyond their own initial thoughts and consider the perspective or point of view of their classmates and the world outside school. We have a friend who is a superior court judge with a desk sign facing him that says: “First Thought Not Correct.” It reminds him to remain open-minded during the process of presenting evidence and reasoning and holding off on judging.

Students also need opportunities to be less ego-centric and more open-minded when they ponder a chunk of learning. This is the main reason for the compare feature of the Rank & Reason tool.

The feature encourages students to visually compare their responses with those of other students. Colorful lines drawn between both participants’ ranked items help students visualize how their thinking may be similar with or different from another participant.

Tips for Using the Compare Feature

• Find the control for the compare feature in the gear on the left of every NextLesson Rank & Reason tool.
• Students Can Compare is ON by default. This means that once a student has submitted responses, they will be able to see the work of other students.
• Turn Students Can Compare off to allow all students to finish their ranking and justifications before seeing the work of other students.
• Leave Students Can Compare on to allow students to read the work of others and revise their work as they go.

Tips for Discussion with Compare

General Tips

• Have each student work with a partner to do the original ranking and justifications.
• Ask students to agree on their top rankings and then their bottom rankings.
• Typically, the richest discussion occurs over placement of the middle rankings. For instance, why is one more significant or important than the one directly below it?
• Have students write their justifications in the speech bubble and if pressed for time, assign justifications to the top and bottom ranked.
• Closure: Take 2-3 minutes and ask students to write two things they have learned (two new perspectives, two new reasons, two pieces of evidence not considered, etc.).

The Half and Half Strategy

• Have each student work with a partner to do the original ranking and justifications.
• Ask students to determine which of the ranked items are commonly ranked in the top half of the list. These are points of agreement.
• Ask students to do the same with the bottom half of the list. These are again points of agreement.
• If there are disagreements in the top – WAHOO! Lead the discussion by asking students to justify their ranking with evidence or reasons for their perspective.
• Repeat for the bottom half.
• Ask students to revise their rankings based on your discussion.
• Closure: Take 2-3 minutes and ask students to write two things they have learned (two new perspectives, two new reasons, two pieces of evidence not considered, etc.).

Meet Me in the Middle Strategy

• • This strategy works to bring attention to the rankings in the middle. Typically, the richest discussion occurs here.
  • Have each student work with a partner to do the original ranking and justifications.
  • Ask students to add justifications just for the middle rankings + one or two above and below.
  • Ask the partners to join another pair when everyone has finished.
  • Five Minutes Max: Have students discuss the ranking and justifications and make any revisions to their own ranking based solely on the discussion in the group of four. NO peeking anyone else’s ideas.
  • Repeat Five Minutes Max with another pair of students.  
  • Repeat strategy Five Minutes Max no more than three times.
  • Closure: Take 2-3 minutes and ask students to write two things they have learned (two new perspectives, two new reasons, two pieces of evidence not considered, etc.).

Multiple Perspectives Strategy

• Have each student work with a partner to do the original ranking and justifications.
• Ask each student to choose two of the ranked items to read OR assign two for them to read.
• Ask students to read the justifications for just those two items and find the two strongest reasons or evidence for the ranking of just that item in the list.
• For older students, challenge them to find reasoning or evidence from multiple perspectives.
• Ask students to revise their ranking or justifications after discussion.
• Closure: Take 2-3 minutes and ask students to write two things they have learned (two new perspectives, two new reasons, two pieces of evidence not considered, etc.).

Try out Rank & Reason with your colleagues!  It works well to shed light on important school or grade level goals.