IT'S YOUR BARBECUE!
I like to use analogies where possible in my profession. It generates discussion and keeps my class on their toes.
Students often ask me how much they need to write for a response to a given question. My answer is almost always the same -
“It's your barbecue.”
A squint of the eyes and then it comes my way -
“You what? That's not an answer.”
Oh, but it is. A good response is one that's well structured and communicates to the reader the ideas presented in a succinct and well researched manner.
Now consider the analogy of a barbecue. You need the coals to be white hot instead of still burning or else you'll not only lose heat quickly, but the flames will char the food rather than cook it through. The coals are therefore your research – have you researched your topic thoroughly? If not, you'll likely create content that's somewhat unfinished and you'll run out of steam before the end.
Then consider the placement of the grill – too low and your food burns. Too high and your food might not cook through enough. This is your time factor. Manage your time efficiently so you provide a full response. A response that is well balanced, covering the topic evenly. You don't want a strong introduction only for the main body of it to be anaemic, lacking in substance.
You have your coals right where you want them and the grill in the correct position – you're all set to go right? Not quite. What are you planning to cook? Typically, burgers and sausages tend to be the staple of any British barbecue. But is that what you really want in a response? Typical? Typical is average. You're competing against other students across the country from other centres. Unfortunately there's a percentage of top grades awarded and the boundaries are adjusted accordingly thereafter. If you want to be in the top band then you need to think differently from your typical set up.
I want to read responses that have substance to them. I want a steak or skewers of meat, not a burger that's blackened on the outside. Chicken drumsticks that's raw in the centre? No thank you. This is you retaining your knowledge. How good is it? Are you able to articulate your learning on the page to engage the reader? Did you take notes in class and have you done your revision? Offer a discussion that's palatable – one that evaluates the effectiveness of any of the academic ideas you're looking to apply. Argue the question or statement and encourage critical thought. Give me steak I say.
At the end of the day, my students say they want to do well and achieve the high grades, but when it comes to it, it really is their barbecue. If you want burgers, fine. But so do the majority of others. It better be the best burger ever or else suffer the prospect of being washed out by the encroaching storm clouds. Whatever the question or topic is, the response needs to have the right balance of a barbecue.
The same can also be said of teachers – have we considered the curriculum and sequencing of topics in a way that sets up our barbecue correctly? Do we have enough resources to fully engage and deliver to our students? We're the supposed specialists with the subject knowledge, but sometimes that's just not enough. There needs to be a strategy in place that's well planned. How prepared you want to be is up to you – it is after all your barbecue.
As a content creator are you happy with what you're dishing up? Let's continue the conversation on Twitter or Facebook, and share your barbecue habits. Do you reinforce or challenge concepts with a meat or veg option?
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Header by Vincent Keiman on Unsplash
For those of you with a subscription please continue for a peek at one of my curriculum 'one sheets' and the assessment map. I briefly outline the various topics covered across an academic year along with some details on the content students need to learn about.