FIRST TIME BLOGGER: Shor, "Empowering Education" (Hyperlink)

Ira Shor

"Empowering Education"

Ira Shor

Shor believes that children should be

ACTIVELY ENGAGED

and

PARTICIPATE

in their learning

ASK QUESTIONS SEEK ANSWERS

CREATE MEANING

Children should

SOCIALIZE

and learn from their peers

within a community based setting.

Children should

RESPECT

each others differences

Personal contributions are

valued and encouraged

Democratic Education

Shor argues that a democratic classroom is essential where "the teacher leads and directs the curriculum, but does so democratically with the participation of the students, balancing the need for structure with the need for openness. The teacher brings lesson plans, learning methods, personal experiences and academic knowledge to class but negotiates the curriculum with the students and begins with their language, themes, and understandings. To be democratic implies orienting subject matter to the student culture-their interests, needs, speech and perceptions-while creating a negotiable openness in class where the student's input jointly creates learning process."

Democratic Education is......

PARTICIPATION DEMOCRACY

ENGAGEMENT

EMPOWERMENT MENTOR SHIP

PROBLEM SOLVING

SELF-DIRECTION MULTICULTURAL

Critical Thinking is

VERY IMPORTANT

Children should not memorize what they are being taught. In order to give learning meaning, a child must use critical thinking skills which will unlock understanding and knowledge.