Creating Psychological Safety during Student Interviews
https://youtu.be/6twxCngvK9Q When educators want to understand the student experience, the most direct path is often to ask learners directly. However, traditional formal interviews in school settings frequently trigger defensive responses from students. Learners are highly accustomed to being evaluated by adults in school. When sitting down for an official 'interview,' students naturally try to guess what the teacher wants to hear rather than sharing their genuine, unvarnished thoughts. To unlock honest feedback, teachers must fundamentally change how these interactions are named, framed, and conducted. The first crucial adjustment is replacing the formal word 'interview' with more approachable terms such as 'discussion,' 'conversation,' or 'chat.' Changing this simple language helps remove the intimidating, evaluative pressure of an official meeting. In a casual chat, the traditional power dynamic between teacher and student softens, allowing p...