Saša Kovačević
WHAT IS ADOLESCENCE?
Adolescence: Crash Course Psychology #20 via YouTube
When considering adolescence, there are so many views that can be adopted. A good starting point is the literal definition which Merriem-Webster considers to be a "period of life when a child develops into an adult." But the question stands, what does that mean? And what factors influence this change? And how will this change affect the way that I teach?
The most visible changes are those that occur to the body, founded the influence of puberty and physical growth. Puberty and physical growth can also claim to be the initial onset of many other factors of that influence adolescence, but can a three inch change in your students height really help you understand what's going on in their mind?
Hank Green thankfully offers some insight with a very lighthearted but relative analysis of a classic film adored by many, linked to the right. Here, Green explores "the struggle between the need to stand out and the need to belong" as depicted in The Breakfast Club. (CrashCourse, 2014) Realistically, this is the search for identity and how it may not be what we thought it was. This idea is not necessarily new, as it has been described by Erik Erikson. The idea then being that "adolescents must grapple with and solve issues of personal, social, and occupational identity." (McMahan et. al., 2015, p. 27) Put simply, when this eccentric group of students is brought together, they being to questions their own identity and their satisfaction within it.
We can argue then that the search for identity is the most important factor in adolescence within todays youth. After all, this search is interconnected with several other factors, like peer influence and even independence. The ideas and philosophies that we learn from our peer groups can aid in or influence our self discovery. Perhaps we agree with one idea and not with another, forcing us to question our idetntity and even shift peer groups. Or perhaps we are comfortable within this peer group, and find safety in numbers. And perhaps then this search is the most influential in the interaction with our students because if the search is not extensive, a true identity will not be formed and adulthood will not be achieved.
When thinking about ways that these factors play into my role as a teacher, I can't help but think about how cognizant I will be of what's happening around me. Will I notice the cliques that are forming within the students, and if they do form is it my role to encourage my students to question their choices? Or is there a way for my to guide this self-discovery and development? I think as an educator we are required to be aware of the changes that our students are going through, and how this could influence their learning or behaviour. Perhaps then it would be wise to change things up in the classroom every now again. This could be something as simple as a rotational seating plan that changes monthly to allow students to be exposed to each others thoughts, ideas and points of view. And maybe this sharing or influence will help guide students to find their identity, and deconstruct the idea that they are only safe in their chosen group.
Further, the idea of a student-centred learning enviornment has made its way into many lectures and discussions. Here, this idea could not only be beneficial for guiding student learning with topics of interest, but also with the idea that topics of interest will guide the search for identity. I have noticed, especially through my education classes, that my peers place emphasis on their interests or areas of expertise when referencing their identity, and so this could also be beneficial to the student.
REFERENCES
Adolescence. (n.d.). Retrieved September 15, 2016, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/adolescence
CrashCourse. (2014, June 23). Adolescence: Crash Course Psychology #20. Retrieved September 15, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PzyXGUCngoU
McMahan, I., & Thompson, S. (2015). Adolescence (Canadian ed.). Ontario: Pearson.
Defining Characteristics of Adolescence