Content-type: text/html Downes.ca ~ Stephen's Web ~ Students using Responsibility Theory and their ‘powerhouse’ to maximise learning and wellbeing

Stephen Downes

Knowledge, Learning, Community

According to this article, "unless a student was personally motivated to behave and learn, there really was very little anyone else could do except offer advice." In other words, "Inevitably, and universally, it is the student who is responsible for their thinking, behaviour and learning." This is the core concept of what is described here as 'Responsibility Theory' and attributed to William Glasser. There's an aspect of it, at least as presented here, that feels a bit cult-leaderish, with talk of their 'powerhouse' and as when the teacher says "let's read the question together once more and then we'll look at six important answers that can help you change your life" (their italics). On the other hand, the idea of avoiding power struggles between teacher and student feels to me like a good one, especially struggles you can't win, as is usually the case with online learning.

Today: 7 Total: 95 [Direct link] [Share]


Stephen Downes Stephen Downes, Casselman, Canada
stephen@downes.ca

Copyright 2024
Last Updated: Nov 21, 2024 10:38 p.m.

Canadian Flag Creative Commons License.

Force:yes