[OSList] Opening space in the classroom

[Lisa Heft]

In my experience with at-risk youth, at-risk adults, and others,  
Patrick - the form of Open Space stays the same. No matter who you are  
working with, no matter what the group is working on.
No need to add anything just because it is scientists or young people  
or parents or activists.

My recommendation for any Open Space is do not squish the time. If you  
do, then only the quickest responders get to have voice in topic  
creation and in small-group discussions.
And, as for any Open Space - design the documentation process in a way  
that is realistic and useful capture for the group you work with and  
the context of how that documentation can be most useful post-event.  
Because there is so much more knowledge to share and learn from than  
whatever were the small groups one got to attend.

As for motivation, same as for any Open Space event - do not just do  
OS because it is cool and groovy - do it for a real reason, that means  
something to them, and with their voice informing what might be useful  
for them - as you do your pre-work and imagine what it might be about.

And since the whole world is a classroom - *everything* is classroom- 
related, as I can tell you may feel from the way you write this message.
So that allows you to create with some core planning-team young people  
a theme that matters, for conversations that matter.

By the way - some of my work has been in prison and at one prison  
health and education conference there was a panel of young people  
whose parents are incarcerated.
This amazing vibrant young leader-person said, 'When you call us youth  
at risk, you are creating the picture of the negative. I would prefer  
that you call me a Youth of Promise!'.
Lots of rich learning there about how we name others and how  
vocabulary creates barriers or opportunities....

Enjoy working with these youth of promise, Patrick, as I know you are...

Lisa


On Sep 24, 2012, at 3:28 PM, Patrick Maxwell wrote:

> Hey friends,
>
> I have a situation, that I'd love some input on. I recently started  
> working in a school for at-risk youth, and so far, I've noticed that  
> the single largest obstacle that the students face is a lack of  
> motivation -- most students aren't any less intelligent than  
> "normal" high schoolers, but for whatever reason (and actually, I  
> blame conventional education for this, at least partially) most are  
> pretty unenthusiastic about anything classroom-related.
>
> I've used OST in the past to facilitate adult gatherings, and I'm  
> thinking about using it with the students as well, as a way to allow  
> them to study something that they're passionate about. With that in  
> mind, I have a couple questions: does anyone here have experience  
> using Open Space principles with at-risk youth? Is there anything I  
> should be aware of, or changes I should make, based on the context?
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
> Peace,
> Patrick Maxwell

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