PARTICIPATORY LEARNING
The educational approach used in Words over Weapons is
called "Participatory Learning".
In the face of complex challenges in young people’s lives today we aim to equip them with increased self esteem; understanding; life skills and creativity. This empowers young people to co-solve the challenges they meet and co-design their own path forward. Learning is a lifelong process whereby individuals acquire attitudes, skills and knowledge from daily experiences and influences from their environment.
Participatory learning
Participatory learning is a process which directly acknowledges, welcomes, values and uses the existing knowledge and competence of those being taught. It is particularly appropriate where the subject matter under consideration touches on people’s deeply held beliefs and attitudes. It is different to 'Mug and Jug' styles or 'Chalk and Talk', which are knowledge-based and educator-driven learning. Participatory learning has proven itself to be a powerful, successful learning tool that is personally fulfilling, meaningful and fun.
In this educational approach the student is central to the learning process and the educator is a facilitator. The student is given as much space as possible to develop his/her own viewpoint through active experience.
Why Experience-Based Learning?
Consider that we remember:
• 20% of what we read;
• 20% of what we hear;
• 30% of what we see;
• 50% of what we see and hear;
• 70% of what we see, hear, and discuss; and
• 90% of what we see, hear, discuss, and practice.
Advantages:
The educator's role in Participatory learning:
For some educators this is a new way of working. Now instead of being at the front of the class giving instruction, the educator is moving through the class helping individual learners as they do their given assignments. While it may seem that the educator is losing power or control, in fact the power is being shared with learners leading them to take more responsibility. The different role of the educator will take some practice but is very rewarding in the long run.
The educator’s roles changes from:
Subject-centred - to - person-centred
Expert - to - facilitator / guide
Discipline / authority - to - trust / encouragement
Focus on output - to - focus on process + output
Authoritative methods - to - participatory methods
An ideal participatory lesson or workshop includes these elements:
For more information on Participatory learning you can visit these websites.
www.learningandteaching.info/learning/experience.htm
or
http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-explrn.htm
In the face of complex challenges in young people’s lives today we aim to equip them with increased self esteem; understanding; life skills and creativity. This empowers young people to co-solve the challenges they meet and co-design their own path forward. Learning is a lifelong process whereby individuals acquire attitudes, skills and knowledge from daily experiences and influences from their environment.
Participatory learning
Participatory learning is a process which directly acknowledges, welcomes, values and uses the existing knowledge and competence of those being taught. It is particularly appropriate where the subject matter under consideration touches on people’s deeply held beliefs and attitudes. It is different to 'Mug and Jug' styles or 'Chalk and Talk', which are knowledge-based and educator-driven learning. Participatory learning has proven itself to be a powerful, successful learning tool that is personally fulfilling, meaningful and fun.
In this educational approach the student is central to the learning process and the educator is a facilitator. The student is given as much space as possible to develop his/her own viewpoint through active experience.
Why Experience-Based Learning?
Consider that we remember:
• 20% of what we read;
• 20% of what we hear;
• 30% of what we see;
• 50% of what we see and hear;
• 70% of what we see, hear, and discuss; and
• 90% of what we see, hear, discuss, and practice.
Advantages:
- Multiple teaching/learning methods can be integrated.
- Very learner-centred.
- Process of “discovery” builds self-esteem.
- Learning is more fun for educators, teaching is more fun for learners/educators.
- Other life skills can be learned, instead of only this content.
- Requires patience and guidance by educator; decentralized approach can seem less orderly and maybe less comfortable to an authoritarian-style educator.
- There is often no single “right” answer.
The educator's role in Participatory learning:
For some educators this is a new way of working. Now instead of being at the front of the class giving instruction, the educator is moving through the class helping individual learners as they do their given assignments. While it may seem that the educator is losing power or control, in fact the power is being shared with learners leading them to take more responsibility. The different role of the educator will take some practice but is very rewarding in the long run.
The educator’s roles changes from:
Subject-centred - to - person-centred
Expert - to - facilitator / guide
Discipline / authority - to - trust / encouragement
Focus on output - to - focus on process + output
Authoritative methods - to - participatory methods
An ideal participatory lesson or workshop includes these elements:
- Warm up exercise.
- Knowledge of the basic issues, to inform young people.
- Interaction with other learners, to positively change attitudes and build skills.
- Activity, making or doing, issue based, to positively change attitudes and build skills.
- Discussion, to reflect and positively change attitudes.
For more information on Participatory learning you can visit these websites.
www.learningandteaching.info/learning/experience.htm
or
http://www.infed.org/biblio/b-explrn.htm