Years in the Making with Connected Learning: Interest-Driven Learning

Nicole Mirra challenges deficit narratives to “remind us that children are complex beings who are not simply interested in childish things; instead, they are citizens in the making who offer sophisticated observations and critiques of the inequalities and injustices around them that educators need to honor and build upon. We have an urgent need to utilize students’ voices and interests in order to help them develop expertise and agency.” Building upon this critical insight, I have compiled recent examples of strong interest-driven projects that cultivated a deep commitment to youth choice and voice, as meaningful ingredients to transformative learning experiences.

In the publication Teaching in the Connected Learning Classroom, Nicole Mirra challenges deficit narratives to “remind us that children are complex beings who are not simply interested in childish things; instead, they are citizens in the making who offer sophisticated observations and critiques of the inequalities and injustices around them that educators need to honor and build upon. We have an urgent need to utilize students’ voices and interests in order to help them develop expertise and agency.” Building upon this critical insight, I have compiled recent examples of strong interest-driven projects that cultivated a deep commitment to youth choice and voice, as meaningful ingredients to transformative learning experiences.