The work developed by Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, “Pedagogy of Autonomy” was published in 1996 to propose recommendations for pedagogical practices aimed at developing student autonomy. Since its creation, the “Pedagogy of Autonomy” has been a model for schools and organizations, especially those dedicated to social development through education, such as Casa Arte Vida, a Rio organization that promotes the foundation of collaborator Ana Carolina Affonso.The following is a brief overview of teaching autonomy and organizations that serve as social studies models for teaching critical and autonomous students.
Image: Ana Carolina Affonso “Pedagogy of Autonomy” by Paulo Freire Published a year before Paulo Freire's death, the book is divided into three main sections: there is no teaching without learning, teaching is not the transfer of knowledge and discipline is human nature .
In each of them, the author emphasizes the importance of treating the learning process as a construct and how education should encompass emotional factors, curiosity, criticism and agency.
Forming Critical and Autonomous Participants In addition to positioning the student as an active participant in learning, in “Pedagogy of Autonomy” and similar works, Paulo Freire discusses the importance of teacher training and development. This gives the teacher the tools to teach and help the student develop critical thinking about the world.
“Autonomy is built through the experience of countless decisions. […] No one suddenly matures at 25. Every day we mature or not. Autonomy, as the development of the being for oneself, is a process, a process in formation. This does not happen on a set date. Likewise, the formation of autonomy must be based on experiences that encourage decision-making and responsibility, that is, experiences that respect freedom”, argues the author.
Photo: Ana Carolina Affonso by Ana Carolina Affonso What is Casa Arte Vida Casa Arte Vida (CAV) is a non-profit organization, founded by Ana Carolina Affonso, from the Pedra de Guaratiba neighborhood, in Rio de Janeiro, is an organization that serves youth and families within, promoting social and economic justice and using education to promote a sustainable future.
Through cost-effective and high-impact programs, Ana Carolina Affonso's social work activities inspire local communities, promote social development and form key individuals committed to the community and society.
CAV uses the social education model of autonomous pedagogy and, at the same time, is inspired by the Escola da Ponte project in Portugal, which places students at the center of the learning process.
About Ana Carolina Affonso Brazilian philanthropist, artist and lawyer, Ana Carolina Borges Torrealba Affonso works as a tile and ceramic painter.
In 2007, the artist combined her passion for the arts with her desire to provide opportunities for disadvantaged young people through education to create Casa Arte Vida. The organization founded by Ana Carolina Affonso has been taking advantage of educational opportunities ever since.
Photo: Ana Carolina Affonso Application of the Indigenous Education Model Educational institutions and institutions that aim to teach critical and autonomous citizens must incorporate some of the concepts of education for autonomy in lesson plans and classroom practices that can use them.
Two examples of organizations that use education for autonomy are Escola da Ponte, located in Portugal, and Casa Arte Vida, located in Brazil and founded by Ana Carolina Affonso.
Escola da Ponte An educational innovation, Escola Básica da Ponte is located in the Porto region, in Portugal. With the aim of stimulating engagement and collaboration among students, the school encourages their participation and intention with academic and family advisors, whether in the learning process or in planning activities, in evaluating retention.
In addition to reflecting the teaching philosophy of Frenchman Célestin Freinet, Escola da Ponte follows the philosophy proposed by Paulo Freire by promoting responsible independence, autonomy and solidarity, developing students' socio-emotional skills and abilities in an up-to-date way.
Casa Arte Vida With a range of skills for children and young people in the after-school period, Casa Arte Vida by Ana Carolina Affonso is another example of an organization that uses the teaching of autonomy as a motivator.
To encourage independence in the young people it serves, CAV offers personalized programs for people of all ages and interests. These programs span the arts, such as dance and fine arts, and technical subjects, such as robotics and mathematics. Furthermore, many CAV projects focus on topics such as entrepreneurship, multidisciplinary development and research and development.
Like Escola da Ponte, the families of children and young people served by CAV are directly involved in the learning process through a family development program. In this way, the non-profit organization promotes student integration into the community in which it operates.
Casa Arte Vida Other approaches used by Casa Arte Vida projects use methods where students take an active role in the learning process, such as the STEAM approach and the theory of multiple intelligences. These approaches encourage students’ curiosity and exploration, something the author of “Pedagogy of Autonomy” frequently refers to.
“Fundamentally, the teacher who respects the student's reading of the world recognizes the historicity of knowledge, recognizes the historical nature of curiosity and, for this very reason, rejects scientific arrogance, embraces the critical humility that is the very essence of the scientific position assumed. this", writes Paulo Freire.
The STEAM Approach One of the pillars of CAV's educational process is the STEAM approach (short for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics). Participants in CAV's STEAM projects learn scientific reasoning through teacher-guided activities and games.
The teacher, as used at Escola da Ponte, assumes the role of mentor who helps participants throughout the process until a solution is reached for the problem presented. Learning is also shared among participants, who learn from their mistakes and build skills related to creativity, imagination, critical thinking and adaptation.
Multiple intelligence theory CAV's alignment with the multiple intelligence theory promotes inclusive education within organizations, helping young people with different abilities to develop skills such as creativity, critical thinking and autonomy.
The activities and projects offered by CAV are interdisciplinary and not just the traditional ones developed by the school, but are multidisciplinary, such as logical-mathematical and linguistic.
Photo: Ana Carolina Affonso Impact of Casa Arte Vida by Ana Carolina Affonso Based on programs and initiatives based on teaching autonomy, CAV works to promote social changes and the future of young people and children in Rio.
Since its creation in 2007, the organization has received awards and recognition and is one of the most effective NGOs in Brazil, in training young people in vulnerable situations and in promoting the Millennium Sustainable Development Goals (due to its actions aligned with the SDGs). Nation (UN).