On 26 Feb 2011, at 16:53, Salyers, Sara M wrote:
> And then I thought, what would it *look* like if getting to class mattered so much that nothing could stop them? I let myself see that clearly and then asked, 'What did it take for that to happen? How did they become related to what was happening in the class? And what could have made a class that *authentically* important to their 'real' lives, to who they are and what their aspirations and values are?' I'm not sure I can yet put the answer into words but I do know that tomorrow we are not proof reading narrative and descriptive paragraphs. Instead we are going to begin, in collaborative groups, to work on the report component of this course. And the report is going to focus on how to be and do what you most want to be and do; what gets in the way; how could you change that? ......
> After our discussions, their assignment is to inquire into 'success': what is it for 'them'; how do they define it as a group; what impedes it, (narratives, attitudes, practices, luck, connections etc.), in their own lives; what enables it (narratives, attitudes, practices, luck, connections etc.); what can they influence and how; how can this class/course restructure itself to be part of their experience of success. The answers are all their own with only one piece of interference for me. The definitions must include a sense of inspiration and or achievement. They'll divide into pairs for 'case study' and describe one another's understanding, 'helps and hindrances' and then collaborate on the conclusions.
Dear Sara (and all) - What an exciting posting with its focus on your students and their learning and what you are doing to support them. Where you say 'The answers are all their own', I'm wondering if you could ask their permission to share some of their accounts. It would be great to hear the students' voices and their learning in relation to your own. I know Marie has been working hard to establish a forum for sharing our accounts of our learning with our students and our students' learning at http://www.livinglearning.org.uk/ and you might encourage your students to access the 'living learning' web-site and post their accounts. Looking forward to hearing more.....
Love Jack.
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