•Networked Participatory Action Research to Address the Future(s) of Education: First Year Successes

and Challenges

A presentation at the Collaborative Action Research Network conference, CARN,

2009: Athens, Greece, 31 October, 2009.

Interesting Ideas

a hard job, little pay, difficult work place

focus on efforts to improve schools

Networked participatory action research

How Do We Prepare Our Young People to Thrive in the World They Will Inherit?

A world we cannot imagine

Context

www.futureofeducationproject.net

Meanwhile in South Florida, USA

Rese

arch

Des

ign

Data from

• Christ Church, New Zealand• Isle of Wight, United Kingdom• Florida, USA• Colorado, USA• Kampala, Uganda• Kinsale, Ireland• Calcutta, India• Site visits from 44

countries

1. Willingness to consider alternatives to schools (88%)

2. Focus on problems rather than strength building perspective

3. Hole in the Wall was popular 4. Links to Ivan Illich

 

Educator-driven process.

Students driven process.

Educator-driven curricula.

Educator-driven curricular choices with professionals the guiding, and assessing the entire process.

Educator-driven curricular choices delivered in online or other modular context, so that students decide upon and employ skill sets and outcomes of their own choosing.

Student-driven curricula.

Student-driven curricular choices with adults facilitating process and skill sets that aid mastery.

Student-driven curricular choices with little or no adult facilitation (LIE).

CHOICE: educator/student-driven curricula/process

•2008-2009 NPAR:Qualities that made things work

Vs. Inhibiting Factors

ExcitementConnectionRegularityYouth Voice

• Time• Busy-ness• Lack of Belief

•Lessons

International perspectivesExploration vs ImprovementLocal teams will question involvementThe world is lurking

Why Not You?

We are actively recruiting:

• Youth videos/ideas/voice• Survey takers• Team leaders for 3 mtgs.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.

Margaret Mead

www.futureofeducationproject.net

http://www.socialurl.com/alanajames

alana@futureofeducationproject.net