Participatory Learning

I watched Clay Shirkey’s video in class last week, and then I ran across David Warlick’s post where he quotes the same line I twittered while watching it:

Media that’s targeted at you but doesn’t include you may not be worth sitting still for.

I was thinking about this during the day and realized that non-participatory teaching is probably not only the least effective way of teaching, but the least used as well. I am no sociologist, but I would venture to guess that over the course of human history, only a small fraction of the planet’s population attempted to educate a society appealing only to the ears and eyes of the learner (like the traditional model of schooling). The most widespread socialization pedagogies have been hands-on. Over time, how many people have learned through an apprenticeship (call it what you like) as opposed to sitting in classes listening to teachers lecture; furthermore, how many children have learned to survive and provide for their future families by hunting, farming, and building alongside their fathers and mothers. Can you imagine the Bushmen in Africa writing textbooks or preparing curriculum guides to teach their children about hunting? Silly.

Let’s skip a couple steps in this train of thought and consider what our children need to survive. With few exceptions, a surviving adult must learn to read, write (or at least effectively communicate), get along and work with others, and work efficiently. Other skills for successful adulthood (though not absolutely necessary) include advanced metacognitive skills, exceptional physical talent, advance motor skills, creativity, etc. As a teacher, how can I ensure that students are effectively learning the essential skills to survive (at the very least) and thrive (at the most)?

For some time, I’ve considered the ability to negotiate relationships as the single most important skill for happiness. I have consciously placed all pedagogical methods in service of this goal: to help my students foster healthy relationships. I work at a treatment center for adolescents, so my focus might be a bit different than most. Nevertheless, I submit that even the brightest graduate of any University will still suffer dramatically if they do not possess the ability to maintain healthy relationships.

I’ve clearly wandered a bit, and I am beginning to wander into a different topic than I originally intended. I’ll try to quickly tie it all together, because it will be fun for me. Participatory education is the most effective, regardless of what you are teaching. In my setting, I focus on relationships, so I can model good relationship skills and participate in healthy relationship with my students. When I teach History I can model a historian’s skills and invite the students to join me in historical endeavors, etc. etc.

The topics all mesh together. I don’t have the talent to write a post with a clear focus. . .