Kids are hardwired to love learning, they will never stop asking questions and exploring the world.
Schools quash that curious spirit. They put kids in a boring, prison-like, highly regimented environment that seeks to teach discipline and obedience to the status quo. Don't think, accept your role in the capitalist machine. If you are bullied, no one will help you, but if you fail to complete work you will be punished. Most of all, get used to not owning most of your time.
Take note of this and try to rekindle your child-like curiousity and love of learning. Ask yourself, do you still have questions about the universe you forgot to ask as a child? Read about the planets, the stars, microbes, machines. But most importantly, do it at your own pace and do it because you still have questions. Not to pass some test, but for you.
Hey, I teach CEGEP level (basically a transition between high school and university) and I have been trying over time to make my students more involved in their learning and/or to have a more leftist approach to knowledge.
Thing is, flipped classrooms and ungrading are some small steps forward but I do not really know how to break the "mold" and get students to explore genuine interests of their own. For reference, I teach English as a Second Language for intermediate/advanced students and anytime I try to go for projects that are a bit more "out there" students end up being extremely hesitant because they are so used to just writing what their teachers want to read.
Long story short, what are some concrete techniques and/or important texts that could help me make my teaching more liberating and empowering and get my students to go beyond just "I am taking this class because I have to take it to get my diploma"?