[OSList] Opening space in the classroom

[Chris Corrigan]

Amen to all this and especially the last part.

My friend Tim Merry uses the expression "high potential youth."  And that is the term I use now too.

C
On 2012-09-24, at 6:24 PM, Lisa Heft wrote:

> 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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