Relevance and Dialogic Learning

Paulo Freire, the Brazilian educator whose ideas are part of the inspiration behind the Friends World model of learning, emphasizes the idea of a dialogue in education. Dialogic education is about an interactive relationship between the learner, the teacher, and the material learned. The dialogue can be personal (as between student and faculty, or student and advisor), or conceptual, a "dialogue" with the subject matter. By this Freire means (in part) a personal rapport between the student and the learning material. This close relationship is also tied in with the processes of integration, evaluation, and experiential education as a whole. Freire gives the example of his own teaching: in teaching Brazilian peasants to read, he rejected the standard course material and constructed a new model based on themes of Brazilian slum life, to which the students could relate directly.

In order to make the bridge from the simple observation to thematic reflection, you will need to make connections between the subject material and other things, including your own experiences. This connection allows you to integrate and synthesize ideas into a new level of understanding.

Workshop Discussion Sparks

How does a particular [seminar, Friends World policy, learning experience, political issue, anything else] relate to your life and point of view?

Inspired and Creative

Begin each section of your Portfolio with the story of your own personal relationship with the subject matter:
- How did you first come across the idea/topic?
- What does this mean to you?
- How did your interest develop?
- (This can lead right into your description of your project.)

Rigorous Training

Take every piece of your Learning Plan and find some connection with your own life (this is really part of your goals statement):
- previous learning or experience
- an inspiring discovery
- a long-standing obsession
- mere curiosity...

AAAAAGGGHHHH!

If you have a piece of learning that just doesn't speak to you or bear any relevance to anything you care about, you will probably be bored and frustrated. It may be time to adjust your focus. (Talk with your advisor.)

See Also

Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Freire
A Pedagogy for Liberation by Paulo Freire and Ira Shor
LEARNING PLAN (A.2)
LEARNING PLAN:GOALS STATEMENT (A.2.a)
ADVISORS (I.3)
INTEGRATION (C.5)
EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION/LEARNING CYCLE (C.1)
CREATIVE WRITING (D.3)
LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH (D.8)
PROCRASTINATION (H.7)
FIVE PARAGRAPH ESSAY (D.1.a)
PURPOSE OF FRIENDS WORLD (B.2)
SEMINARS (I.4)
DIALOGUE (D.2)

Contribute to the Portfolio Resource Guide!!!

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