Objective

Recall the cognitive and academic benefits of student talk, citing research-based practices.

⏳Suggested Time: 6 mins 

Academic discourse and student talk are foundational to deep learning across all subjects because they promote critical thinking, language development, and social construction of knowledge. Research consistently shows that when students are engaged in purposeful talk, they process content more deeply, retain information longer, and develop communication skills essential for academic success and future careers.

Why It Matters: Research-Based Rationale

1. Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory (1978)
   Vygotsky emphasized the social nature of learning, arguing that knowledge is co-constructed through interaction with others. Student talk allows learners to build on each other’s ideas within their Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), deepening understanding.
   
   

2. Resnick, Michaels, & O'Connor (2010) – Accountable Talk®
   They highlight that accountable talk—discourse that is grounded in evidence, reasoning, and classroom norms—supports rigorous thinking and equitable participation. According to their research, structured academic talk “increases both the quality of students’ reasoning and their grasp of academic content.”
   
   

3. John Hattie (2023) – Visible Learning
   Hattie’s meta-analysis gives classroom discussion an effect size of 0.82, well above the average for educational interventions. This means that using student talk as a high-impact strategy significantly enhances student achievement.
   
   

4. Zwiers & Crawford (2011) – Academic Conversations

These authors argue that structured conversations help students develop the linguistic tools they need to succeed in content areas. They emphasize teaching students how to build on ideas, clarify thinking, and use academic vocabulary in authentic contexts.

In this section, you'll find a video that builds on the content presented above. To access, click the video. Once the navigation menu appears, click the first icon (the square with an arrow). This will open the video in a new window. As you watch the video, think about how student discourse is essential to student academic growth and understanding. 

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