Presenter: Paul Allison
Location: New York City, NY
@paulallison

Presentation Title: A Key to Interest-Based Learning

Presentation Description: When we introduce Youth Voices to students we tell them: “We mean it! We really do want you to find your own area of inquiry, your own niche of expertise, exploration, and excitement. What are you already good at? What do you dream about, wonder over, and want to inquire into? What are you passionate about? That’s what good research is really about. Starting with 10 self and 10 world questions is a great way to begin!” http://youthvoices.net/questions

Next, we tell students: “Over time, along with your teacher and your peers you will be able to identify the “generative themes” (Paulo Freire, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Chapter 3, pp. 96 & 97) that begin to bubble up in your writing. This type of really free, habitual freewriting is an important first step — and ongoing, underground spring — that allows your projects and essays to become “a practice in catalyzing passion and creativity,” not just another school assignment. Once you begin to write into an area of inquiry, your can take your next step “by finding niche learning communities that each kid might want to be a part of and build on that.” (John Seely Brown. Lecture, 1.18.05) Helping you to create and find these niches is what “creating discussions” in a school-based social network such as Youth Voices is all about.: http://youthvoices.net/freewriting

In this video, Paul Allison puts the “10 self/10 world questions” assignment into the context of the larger goals of Youth Voices, where we encourage students to allow their passions to brush up against disciplinary inquiry.

Learn more about this key to interest-based learning.

Link to presentation’s supporting documents:
http://youthvoices.net/questions

Additional Information:
http://youthvoices.net