In this paper we describe our experience in teaching Participatory Design during a period of student activism. The paper begins with an introduction to the general contexts, characterised by widespread university budget cuts and student activism, and our positioning as course instructors. Drawing upon different conceptualisations of participation, from innovation to motivation, we describe and analyse our experience in teaching a course as it was a Participatory Design project, discussing with students not only some side elements but the whole course details and structure. In conclusions, we show under which conditions this approach is able to re-frame the power balance between teachers and students.