I was basically signalling that the emerging norm was one of NOT doing homework.
And so, those few students who DID do their homework were now questioning whether they were at risk of not aligning with expected group behaviour (unconsciously at least) 😱
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They are so powerful that they often override more formal rules or policies.
What we amplify, we encourage.
When we see one person picking up litter, we might consider doing it.
When we see EVERYONE else picking up litter, we start to worry about being left out.
"Singh has come in and got started on the task straight away."
But some aspects are less obvious. In particular: the importance of 'accentuating the positive'.
Previously, there were times when a large proportion of my class didn't do their homework. I'd come in the next lesson and chastise them:
"Team, this isn't good enough. Loads of you didn't do your homework. Sort yourselves out."
But what message was I sending?
And so, those few students who DID do their homework were now questioning whether they were at risk of not aligning with expected group behaviour (unconsciously at least) 😱