So, I have an idea. I think it is a pretty good idea actually. Hear me out.
In modern society, and it has probably been like this throughout history, the people who have a monopoly on knowledge production (i.e. the creation and sharing of knowledge) are the experts. For example, if I want to learn about creative writing, I will go to an expert (most likely an adult) who has been studying and teaching creative writing for many years. This is great. We are very lucky that in modern society we have the ability to learn anything, and I mean ANYTHING, for free, on most topics in the world, and from experts in the field.
Here is the issue though; why are the experts the only ones considered to be credible enough to teach and produce knowledge? Why can't a 16 year old student who loves creative writing and has been writing and studying it for a number of years be able share their knowledge about this subject? Do they not have ANYTHING to contribute to the general subject of creative writing?
My personal belief is that knowledge production MUST be shared. We have to provide avenues and opportunities for students of all ages to feel like they are not just passive learners but also active participants in the knowledge that is being produced in this world.
With this introduction I invite you to "student2peer" to partake in the production and sharing of student knowledge. A place where student's voices are being heard and shared with their peers.
WHAT THIS BLOG IS GOING TO DO:
This blog intends to feature 1 student every week starting the week of February 1st through June 16th, 2016 who will teach and share knowledge they produced in their own personal way. The student teacher can teach as little as one class and as many classes as they would like.
INCENTIVES TO BEING A STUDENT TEACHER:
1) As the blog grows, students who teach can attain a large following. They can then turn and use this platform to create their own blog, youtube channel, etc.. to maintain those followers.
Think I am joking, check out this story:
Olivia Hallisey, winner of the Google Science Fair 2015 was voted by Time Magazine as one of the most 30 influential teens of 2015.
THIS COULD BE YOU!
3) If you present a minimum of 3 times you can receive a reference letter for a school or job you are applying for in addition to adding blogging on volunteer/work experience.
4) As your followers grow there is potential to receive payment for the blogs that you post
WHAT TO TEACH:
Please choose one of the topics below to teach (we are narrowing our options just for the beginning of this initiative):
1) My Story: The impactful and inspirational moment/s in my life that have shaped who I am today
2) An explanation of a piece of history or political system/situation of a country/region/city/village
3) A technological skill that you can teach people to develop
-Guidelines
1) Your class must be a minimum of 5 minutes and maximum 20 minutes
2) You can deliver the class either through a recorded video or an informative/narrated slideshow (online tools will be provided below to help you organize your class). All classes should be posted on the blog.
3) The class cannot contain any racist, sexist, homophobic, discriminatory, or defamatory remarks
4) Your class must be edited to a presentable degree before being published on the blog
5) All knowledge shared must be credible and referenced if necessary
-TIPS: Some advice on how to design an engaging class
Here are a couple of tips and tools that may help you in creating your class. This is not a mandatory procedure, but it is highly suggested.
1) Teach knowledge that is interesting to you! If you care about the knowledge you are sharing, others will also.
2) Design a class outline or lesson plan for your class before you sit down to film yourself or create your slideshow.
-Here is one method to create a class outline or lesson plan
-Here is a detailed example of a class outline or lesson plan
You can copy and paste these lesson plans to make use of them.
3) When you have finished your outline think of how you want to share the knowledge you have produced. Next to each of the suggestions below are easy online tools that can be used to create your own class. Each of these items are free and contain tutorials to help you learn how to use the tool (there are MANY other tools that exists, these are just a couple):
a) Video-Screencast
b) Informative/Narrated Slideshow-Movenote
4) Once you have decided the way you are going to teach your class... let the work begin :)
5) Edit your work to the best of your capability. Send your work to one or two friends to get some further feedback.
6) PUBLISH YOUR CLASS ON THE BLOG (and other sites like youtube if you would like) AND TAKE PART IN GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTION
7) SHARE YOUR CLASS THROUGH EMAIL, FACEBOOK, AND ALL FORMS OF SOCIAL MEDIA
FINAL THOUGHTS:
This is a serious attempt to disrupt the status quo concerning knowledge production. I believe wholeheartedly in this idea and this blog is just the first step. Please email me at zackisakow@gmail.com to be given permission to post on this blog. Additionally, email me with any questions you have about the concept of student2peer or the class that you are going to create.
