Crofton House School
ENGAGING IN EXCELLENCE
The Harkness method of teaching in action
When Tiah Dunstan ’19 talks about Department Head of Social Studies
Harkness classes, her excitement at Christina Cuk explains that
their exploration and stimulation is complexity is what sets Harkness
clear. “It really encourages everyone at apart from traditional teaching.
the table to participate, to focus and “Students are doing many things at the
learn from each other. Your role is to same time. They are trying to listen
contribute as much as you want to get in a way that really allows them to
out of it; you need to contribute in a understand what their classmates are
way that will further the discussion saying. They are trying to track where
and the learning.”
a conversation is going, readjusting
their own thinking and formulating
Crofton House introduced the their contribution on the fly. This
Harkness method to some Senior complexity makes the discussions
School classes in 2017, starting challenging, and you can see that they
with English and Social Studies, are deeply engaged.”
spearheaded by Gail Robinson,
Department Head of English. Gail’s This impact is echoed by Gail who says
prev ious ex perience w ith the the method’s most important outcomes
Harkness method led her to explore extend beyond these formative years.
Harkness strategies as one of the first “In order to succeed today, we need to
CHS Chairs of Teaching and Learning. teach our students how to face problems
with courage, and tackle them using
The Harkness method of teaching is a critical and creative thinking. We need
research-based approach to learning them to see their peers as resources to
that involves a group of students work collaboratively and extend their
discussing a subject with a teacher understanding of themselves — so that
around a table. By empowering when they leave Crofton House, they are
students to participate in lively confident in who they are and what they
intellectual conversations, it deepens stand for, and can promote their ideas in
their understanding of a topic.
the world they find themselves in.”
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