Teaching Strategies - Gallery Walks

The second strategy we learned was "Gallery Walks." This strategy allows students to show case their work, receive feedback and view their classmates' work.   

What are Gallery Walks? 

Gallery Walks can arguably be considered a type of visual organizer. They require students to express their ideas and answers on chart paper, then showcase their work to the class. If used effectively, Gallery Walks can encourage creativity and collaborative group work. Students are required to demonstrate their learning as well as teach their fellow classmates about their topic/question. This strategy is definitely cross-curricular and can be adopted and adapted into every classroom.  

Students move around the classroom during a gallery walk to: view, read, and respond classmates writing and other projects. They can be displayed on walls or placed on desks or stations. Students write comments on self-stick notes and attach them to the edge of each project or a “graffiti board” (a sheet of paper) posted next to each student’s work.

Gallery walks might include items such as posters, maps, letters to the editor, pictures, collages cartoons, poems, stories, songs, etc.

How do we Prepare Gallery Walks? 

Materials: chart paper, markers, push pins or tape

Procedure:
1. For this strategy, students usually work in small groups and are given a specific task.
2. Have students complete the task on the chart paper
3. Pin or tape the finished products around the classroom whether that means on the walls, at desks, perhaps create stations
4. Be sure to set a time limit
5. Have students walk around the "gallery" to look at each others' work 
6. Model how to view, read, and respond. Use 1 or 2 projects as an example
7. Direct flow of traffic to make sure all students’ work is viewed, read, and responded to and that comments are supportive and useful
8. Bring closure to the gallery walk: ask students to move to their own project. Have them look at the comments, questions, or other responses they’ve received 

Variations: 

Gallery walks can be used in two ways: 

1. They can be used during class time. Students can use the time to brainstorm or complete an activity, work on an assignment etc. and then showcase their progress at the end of class. This is a great way for students to receive immediate feedback on their progress from both the teacher and their classmates.

2. They can be used to showcase the final product. Once the assignment is complete, students can showcase their work to everyone.  

Additions: Beside the original piece of work, add an additional piece of paper for students/teachers to leave comments (Graffiti paper)

Why Gallery Walks

•  Gallery Walks provides an immediate audience for student’s projects. 
• The activity can be completed much more quickly than if each student were to share his or her work in front of the class.
• Students become more motivated when they know they are sharing their work with a broader audience than just the teacher.
• Supportive feedback is provided and students learn new ideas they can incorporate into their own writing projects.

When should I use a Gallery Walk?

• A good way to introduce a gallery walk is to post pictures and have students move around the classroom
• They write what the picture makes them think of on post-it notes. 
• They attach these under the picture.
• This first experience isn’t threatening because students’ work isn’t being critiqued.
• After this experience students need to respond to classmates’ projects because having an audience for their work is the purpose behind the gallery walk.
• After students learn to make positive, supportive comments about classmates work, they can also try writing questions after reading classmates’ rough drafts to assist them in revising their writing.
• Students read the rough drafts and then write questions asking classmates to clarify, rephrase, or extend an idea. 
• Questions like these provide direction for students as they revise their writing.

Below are photographs of a gallery walk, photos were taken from Google Images.

 
Reflection:

 

I first encountered Gallery Walks in EDCI 747; we used them during group work in order to quickly share ideas. It was also a really popular activity during our “mini-lessons.”

I really like the idea of providing an immediate audience for student’s projects. A lot of the time, especially in high school, students put a lot of work and a lot of effort into their projects but they are never given the opportunity to share it with anyone. Perhaps this has to do with the whole “growing up” and becoming “mature” and showcasing work just isn’t “cool” anymore.

Gallery walks also provides students with motivation. When they know their work will be displayed and shared, they are more inclined to put more into it. Motivation and engagement are becoming increasingly difficult in school culture today, especially since the introduction of cell phones, and the internet. Students today are constantly on the move and they have very little patience. They want everything and they want it NOW. I think that gallery walks, if used effectively, will provide students with the opportunity to stop, think, and slow down.They will be given the opportunity to look at their classmates' work and see how they tackled the same assignment. Gallery walks provide an opportunity for students to share their ideas with each other and hopefully enrich their own projects.