Fostering Student Self-Awareness and Esteem to Participate and Transform Their Worlds

Abstract

This chapter provides an example of American andragogy with a discussion on why and how to redesign a traditional classroom for college students to gain leadership skills and social justice awareness. Social justice action is especially important for students to research and discuss in order to create an environment where peace, security, and respectful engagement become part of students' leadership skills. After a discussion of American andragogy, the chapter focuses on redesigning spaces, roles, and expectations to create learning spaces that provide students with explicit reasons for participating in alternative learning spaces. The chapter concludes by emphasizing safe spaces and brave spaces as sites to encourage leadership skills and with it social justice awareness.