The Intrepid Classroom is now open!
April 28, 2008 by Intrepidteacher
- Have you always wished you could decide what you learn in school?
- Do you wish you had a say in writing your school curriculum?
- Are there topics you are interested in that your teachers never teach you?
Then welcome to the Intrepid Classroom, where you decide what you want to learn!
This classroom is a place for students of all ages from around the world to visit, meet each other, share ideas, and decide what they want to learn from each other. I am a teacher who is currently without a “real” classroom, and because my urge to teach and connect with students is so strong, I have created the Intrepid Classroom.
I hope to act as facilitator, social-network liaison, web 2.0 tutor, presenter, performer, observer, and organizer. I will post a variety of music, artwork, and articles, and share links, but I hope that the comment section will be the place where most of our learning occurs. I need the readers to be active participants for this experiment to work.
While my goal is to focus on the following topics: conflict resolution, global sustainability, peace activism, music and art as agent for social change, technology as a tool for social justice causes, I am open to any other topics, you the readers of this blog, suggest.
I am excited about the prospect of working in an environment unhindered by the restraints of a fixed curriculum. I have led classes in English, Social Studies, Journalism, and Drama, so you can see my interests are varied. We can build upon any topic you feel important here at the Intrepid Classroom. I hope that we can create a fluid, organic curriculum that engages all participants.
Let’s get started! If you are visiting for the first time, please leave a comment telling us who you are, where you are from, and what you wish to study here at the Intrepid Classroom. Remember to follow all web safety protocols and leave only the information necessary. We don’t need to know your last name, email address, or home address. If you are a former student of mine, then welcome back.
Education is a personal experience, so what do you want to learn today?
*Please leave a comment anywhere on the blog, if you wish to be a guest writer for Intrepid Classroom. Students who show a consistent passion and talent will be asked to be regular presenters.
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How could I not be part of this? My passion for writing has never been this alive. As I start hight school next year I might not have time but I will always come and check around. Writing is the best way to do anything. Poetry is my second name, so why give up on an opportunity like this?
AOOO, I would like to be part of this website class..
I mean this is great, I can lear anything I want.
I just wondering how this going to work?
well I’ll be happy if you tell me a bit about poetry, because we learn about poetry this last semester and I so don’t get it, we I do but kinda hard..
Like syllebel(sp) or limewrik and PUNS!! AND IDIOM…I never get puns…what so funny?
well yeah stuff like that.. hihi..
I’m Natasha! you know me of course :). I can’t wait for this blog to start!
W00t! this is a great idea for a site and you’re just the guy to breath life into it, J!
I’m here to stay on top of what’s going on with would-be peace activists, and also to help out folks who might be thinking about doing some learning in a more traditional setting down the line.
I’m a storyteller, haiku-writer, and academic matchmaker, and you can follow me up as @butwait on Twitter.
Looking forward to listening and learning.
Hello! I’m Hannah, a 10th grader in Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Well, right now I need to learn about math…but that’s not a want, soo:
I would like to learn about journalism. I like the news. Currently, I know nothing at all relating to journalism, so I’ll take any lesson!
I am definitely in!
I have been waiting for something like this, but my wait has finally ended. Thank you and good luck.
Sai.
Hi mr. Raisdana,
I would like to join this too.
David
I’m in too! Would like to address the topic of sustainability in particular, especially in relation to our incredible population growth - in a few decades, maybe years, we are going to be faced with the problem of feeding more people than we can feed.
I’m Aron, from Hungary, currently living in Malaysia, about to move to Japan.
Hey guys. Great to see some enthusiasm! We will get to all your topics as soon as we have some clarity.
Please try and bring some inquiry to the table. There is nothing to sign up for. Just bring your ideas.
Does everyone know how to RSS to comments? Once you have a Google reader account, you simply click on the orange link above called Comments RSS and that way you will be informed every time there is a new comment. That way you will not be left out of the conversations. Saves you time, so you don’t have to keep checking back to see if there are any new comments.
I’m in… I’d love to be a part of something like this.
I’m just leaving school in the next couple of months, but I don’t see why that should make me stop learning
I love music, but I’m up for learning about anything really.
Sean.
I’d love to do some collaborative art and/or music, if any one is interested.
And J–maybe we could post the student’s work on youthnet?
I’m in, if there’s more spaces.
As to what I would like to learn… anything that is not really handled in school a whole lot because it is a “sensitive” issue, like whether or not humans should become a sort of “advocate” for natural selection — of course, when we’re talking about animals everything fine and dandy but when we come to humans, it’s all “don’t offend anyone…”.
Liturature/poetry analysis is also a favorite of mine. Maybe a book discussion? Music? Or something, whatever works, really.
– Julia (who’s feeling quite noncommital when it comes to subject matter today — she has a feeling it’s through lack of sleep — but she’ll come back soon with some more concrete ideas of subject matter)
Julia, I am so pleased to have you on board. This is turning out to be quite a group of students. I feel like an All-Start coach!
Hello. My name is Amani, and I heard about this class from a friend. Thought it would be interesting and felt like joining.
As for subjects, im up for anything.
When I read this, I was like…. Mr.R’s opening his classroom doors!!
It’s been a long time since I’ve been in your englisheight blog to see what’s up. And when it says that your new blog is coming here.. I just had to see it. And then, I saw the people who I knew would be joining these things like Ataya, Natasha and Julia. After seeing alot more people going onboard, I feel like this classroom can go all the way!
I’m in… this classroom blogging thing sounds really cool and should be interesting…
WOW!! please let me be part of your intrepid classroom.
Ms.Rumford talked to us about the problems that you had and we just started to talk, and since we were studying freedom of speech in history, we related it with your problems.
I would like to know more about the problems you had with your school and government because of blogging.
hope we can continue talking!
Hello….. I am definitely in!….. just let me know the topic and all. I would like to do things on current issues so yea……. can’t wait for it!
From Junichi