Why an Asset-Based Mindset is Important in Education

As educators, we try to develop new ways to build on the skills and interests that our students bring to our classrooms. 

That's why our webinar, called “Honoring Student Voices: An Asset-Based Approach,” addresses the value of asset-based learning. 

If you missed the webinar, you can watch it here. In the meantime, though, here are some highlights.   

Focus on Assets

An asset-based mindset in education values the wealth of knowledge, skills, and experiences that students bring with them every day. When we develop asset-based classrooms, we can get to know each student’s unique strengths and leverage them for optimal learning.   

Use Discourse Communities Intentionally

Your students already belong to several "discourse communities," from sports teams to religious communities to gaming platforms. In these communities, students learn vocabulary, rules, and expectations to participate. Many of them succeed in these communities with minimal to no guidance from the adults in their lives! Framing your classroom and content area as discourse communities themselves can be a powerful tool in education. 

Reimagine Content, Reassess Objectives

As tried-and-true experts, we love our subject matter, and sometimes, it can be tempting to teach content for content’s sake. But our main job is to teach our students critical thinking and problem-solving. This gives them the tools they need to thrive in all the academic discourse communities they end up joining.  

Use Discourse Communities to Celebrate Student Voice

Your students come to you already equipped with the ability to succeed. After all, they’ve succeeded before, countless times and in countless contexts. With the right framing, you can emphasize that the subject you teach is just one more of these communities for them to join. Sure, they might have to learn some new skills, rules, and concepts, but this isn’t anything they haven’t done before!   

Want more?

Watch the full webinar to learn more about how you can develop an asset-based approach in your classroom. You'll feel empowered to leverage discourse communities in your classroom and create meaningful experiences for your students!