edci 5065 week 5 - video responses

"Finding Our Turf: Youth Voice" YouTube video


If students feel like their voices are heard, then they may participate more in class and in the greater community, because they will feel like their voice matters and that they can make a difference. This video shows teenagers in Silver Spring, Maryland being interviewed about whether they feel their voice is heard by the government or adults in general. The consensus among the teenagers was that adults do not listen to them or take them seriously, because they are young. One girl said: "The youth don't have a voice anywhere, especially if you're under 18." Her friend then chimed in and said that if you were under 25, no one listened to you. The main issue seemed to be that adults did not understand youth culture. One young man said, "They don't allow loud music." He also pointed out that there was nothing for young people to do, such as rec centers. If young people felt like adults listened to them and adults tried to understand young people, there would be less of a disconnect between teenagers and adults. Jeff Duncan-Andrade believes that teachers should listen to their students and try to understand their culture. He becomes a student of his students and allows them to speak their minds freely. He incorporates youth culture, like films or music, into the classroom. By using youth culture, he is teaching his content area while making it relevant to students' lives. Young people have feelings and opinions. They are not just sullen troublemakers. As a teacher, I will try to listen to my students and incorporate current books or films into the curriculum. If I can spark a student's interest by utilizing their culture in the classroom, then I have done my job as an educator.

"Welcome to My PLE!" YouTube video
If students are given opportunities to be autonomous learners, then they will be more interested in what they are learning, because they are given the freedom to explore and learn on their own. In this video, a seventh grade student demonstrates her personal learning environment, or PLE. It is a place for all her schoolwork and Internet tools and links that she uses in science class. The class is paperless, which means they do all their work on the computer. The student says that she gets to science class every day and checks the class wiki. Then she does work on her own, depending on what the assignment of the day is. The student says, "I really like learning this way because I get more freedom." Although the students have to resist the temptation to surf non-school related sites, she says they are held accountable for their actions and have to be responsible. There is not a choice to simply fool around; the work must be done. However, the students are given freedom in choosing what assignments to do and when they want to complete them. This relates to a student's motivation. If a student is given an assignment they are interested in, they are more likely to remember the material. Self-autonomous students are directing their own learning, so they are invested in what they are learning. They form an emotional connection with the material, and this helps them remember it as well. The student is obviously very proud of her PLE and has done a careful job of organizing all the tools she uses. In Daniel Pink's Ted video, he talks about how if you give people freedom to do what they want, they will actual create a better finished product. The students are allowed to choose what to work on, and the end result is a student who asks questions and pursues knowledge on their own.



"Gay Camp: Helping Youth Feel Safe and Supported" Youtube video

If students feel that they are in a safe, supportive community of learners, then they will succeed in school, because they have a sense of belonging and support that allows them to focus on learning. This video is about a summer camp for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth in Edmonton, Alberta. The camp is called Fyrefly and was founded by Chris Wells. The camp provides a welcoming, supportive for anyone, regardless of their sexual orientation. It is place where students do not have to hide who they are, and can meet people who will not judge them for being different. Kaitlyn Hatch, an attendee at the camp, says, "I just got a sense of no longer needing to hide in anyway." Hatch felt like she found a place where she belonged. She says there is "a sense of community" among the campers. In Maslow's hierachy of needs, one of the stages is the love and belongingness needs. To achieve self-actualization and reach your full potential as a human being, you need to belong to a group and feel supported and loved. The GLBTQ youth may have mocked or harassed for their sexual orientation, and they may not have felt like they fit in. At Fyrefly, they have found a place where they can be themselves and not have to hide anymore. This is the same as a school environment. As teachers, we must embrace all students, regardless of differences. If students feel like they are in a safe environment, they will learn better. If their love and belongingness needs are not met, and they are bullied or left out, this may affect their school performance. They could bring the emotional baggage of being teased or excluded into the classroom, where they cannot focus on their schoolwork to the best of their ability. As teachers, we must meet our students' needs so they can be successful learners.

Thanks for reading!