Communities of Ownership

Theory of Democratic Learning and Environmental Development: Curriculum and learning environments must be developed with the student at the beginning of each class, course or module. The Democratic Learning and Environmental Development process is the starting point for effective education and motivated students.

Definition and support: Ira Shor (1992) in the book Empowering Education clearly defines the essence of theory of Democratic Learning and Environmental Development. In a participatory process, where students co-develop the course, teachers can learn better the actual cognitive levels of students from which to design forward development. Until students experience lively participation, mutual authority, and meaningful work they will display depressed skills and knowledge, as well as negative emotions. Teachers will be measuring and reacting to an artificially low picture of student abilities” (Shor, 1992, p. 21).