Revitalising The ALC: A research partnership between the students and teacher in an Alternative Learning Centre (ALC) and QUT
This project used a newly developed youth-adult participatory action research methodology, which draws the idea of youth-adult partnership together with youth participatory action research, to work in partnership with the students and teacher in an Alternative Learning Centre (ALC). The project aimed to develop recommendations to revitalise the students’ and teacher’s shared learning and teaching environment in ways that enhance engagement for everyone. By providing an opportunity for the students to focus on work that is personally meaningful, the project highlighted the capabilities of students for whom mainstream schooling doesn’t work, and the quality of the four mini projects demonstrates that ‘alternative’ learning does not have to signify ‘second rate’ learning. This was also clear in the students’ ability to persist with complex problems that required critical and creative thinking skills. The project also demonstrated the potential of mutual learning through intergenerational dialogue and collaboration. This report was co-authored by the teacher and program coordinator of The ALC, Ms Danae Jensen; the project’s research assistant, Ms Sarah Harnischfeger; and students Aaliyah, Daniel, Imogen, Jason, Jaymi, Jessica, Logan, Maddison, Noah, Trae and Xaydan.
The report can be accessed via the link below:
https://eprints.qut.edu.au/236287/1/Report.pdf
To cite this report:
Howell, Angelique, Jensen, Danae, & Harnischfeger, Sarah (2022) Revitalising The ALC: A research partnership between the students and teacher in an Alternative Learning Centre (ALC) and QUT. The Alternative Learning Centre (ALC), Australia.