Modes and Themes, Modules and Models (oh my!)
Modules
After much deliberation, we’ve developed a guiding model for the Teachers’ Strategy. Using the “Themes of Mapping” Nick laid out earlier (Boundaries, Layers, Production/Techniques/Processes, Personal Spaces, Stories/Memories/Narratives) as overarching themes, we will developing modules that address each of the “Modes of Participatory Culture” (Civic/Community Engagement, Engaging Popular Culture, Representational Plurality, Simulating Real World Systems, Re-evaluating the Role of Expertise). Not every mode will be addressed in every module/theme, but we definitely make sure that all are addressed at some point.
Each will contain some combination of:
A Worked Example - profile of an teacher or other youth-serving professional exhibiting a related activity that they’re already doing. The goal here is to highlight both the promises and tensions in bringing participatory practicies into the classroom.
Concrete Activities - Definitely not full lesson plans, but short, modular activities tied to the modes and themes that can be incorporated by teachers into lesson plans
Resources - links and descriptions of related multimedia practices, projects, readings. Some will be linked to concrete activities, some will stand alone for teachers to develop into activities as they see fit or simply stand alone as illuminating and interesting resources.
Participatory Structures - classroom strategies that can be used in with any content, demonstrated in light of the particular modes and theme of the module
Our Plan
Our goal is to develop a pilot Module using the theme “Boundaries” (more on that in an up-coming blog post). By starting with a pilot, we can trouble shoot our process, figure out timing, scope, and scale. We’re definitely looking for input, ideas, and collaboration!
2 years ago