On Saturday February 1st, three keynote speakers shared their experiences of promoting democracy and inclusion in their schools.
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Sir Keith Ajegbo, Chair of Stephen Lawrence TrustSir Keith Ajegbo was Head of Deptford Green School for 20 years, retiring in July 2006. He is now Chair of the Stephen Lawrence Trust, a trustee of the Wimbledon Charitable Foundation and a Trustee of a small charity working in Rwanda.
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On Sunday, workshops and presentations were given by teachers from the Five Nations and we were very privileged to have international guests from Finland.
Workshop 1: Practical tools for teachers to deal with information disorder
According to the Finnish experience, teachers need an updated set of tools and methods to be able to meet curricular goals and to provide support and encouragement for their pupils confronting and dealing with unclear and conflicting information.
In this practical session Kari will talk about a project that brought together fact-checking experts, journalists, media specialists and pedagogues and the information literacy tools that were created:
-to support teachers in dealing with social media issues in the classroom context;
-to activate students to verify their social media content empowered with critical thinking and information literacy skills to resist mis- and disinformation
Watch an example of a disinformation campaign from the workshop
Download the session presentation
Workshop 1: Practical tools for teachers to deal with information disorder
According to the Finnish experience, teachers need an updated set of tools and methods to be able to meet curricular goals and to provide support and encouragement for their pupils confronting and dealing with unclear and conflicting information.
In this practical session Kari will talk about a project that brought together fact-checking experts, journalists, media specialists and pedagogues and the information literacy tools that were created:
-to support teachers in dealing with social media issues in the classroom context;
-to activate students to verify their social media content empowered with critical thinking and information literacy skills to resist mis- and disinformation
Watch an example of a disinformation campaign from the workshop
Download the session presentation
Workshop 2: The Specifics of the Finnish Education System: Human rights, citizenship and global identity in the curriculum
The session will start with the specifics of the Finnish Education system to help the participants understand the structure of it and how and why we do education in the way that we do. This will include:
-teacher training
-overview of the curriculum model and structure
-current challenges and demands for the future of education in the fast changing and globalised world
-human rights, citizenship and media literacy in the general curriculum, in different subjects, and intersecting competences beyond school culture
-opportunities and pedagogical approaches for the implementation of these issues in primary and secondary, and some best practice
Participants will then have an opportunity to reflect on and discuss what they have heard and compare and contrast this with their own experiences and practices.
Download the workshop presentation
The session will start with the specifics of the Finnish Education system to help the participants understand the structure of it and how and why we do education in the way that we do. This will include:
-teacher training
-overview of the curriculum model and structure
-current challenges and demands for the future of education in the fast changing and globalised world
-human rights, citizenship and media literacy in the general curriculum, in different subjects, and intersecting competences beyond school culture
-opportunities and pedagogical approaches for the implementation of these issues in primary and secondary, and some best practice
Participants will then have an opportunity to reflect on and discuss what they have heard and compare and contrast this with their own experiences and practices.
Download the workshop presentation
Workshop 3: Practical strategies for teaching Media Literacy in Citizenship
After participating in an eye-opening teacher exchange to the United States last April, Helen and Bryden have set out to implement Media Literacy lessons within their schools. This workshop will share the journey that they have been on and will signpost a number of useful Media Literacy resources that they found to help their teaching. The workshop will also be a hands-on opportunity to experience activities which Helen and Bryden’s pupils have undertaken in order to explore topics such as different news genres, media consumption, and bias in the news.
Download the workshop presentation
After participating in an eye-opening teacher exchange to the United States last April, Helen and Bryden have set out to implement Media Literacy lessons within their schools. This workshop will share the journey that they have been on and will signpost a number of useful Media Literacy resources that they found to help their teaching. The workshop will also be a hands-on opportunity to experience activities which Helen and Bryden’s pupils have undertaken in order to explore topics such as different news genres, media consumption, and bias in the news.
Download the workshop presentation
Workshop 4: Religious Diversity in a Northern Irish Integrated College
This session had three focus points relating to Religious Voices, a video documentary and teaching resource created by the students.
Firstly, the workshop focused on the process of creating the resource which centred on the idea of student facilitation, empowerment and developing essential life skills during the process.
Secondly, the resource was discussed which gives an authentic voice to the often overlooked religious minority groups in post-conflict Northern Ireland. The challenge of dealing with the present was explored, where racially motivated hate crimes outnumber sectarian hate crimes, in a society struggling to come to terms with its past.
Finally, the impact of the resource was considered which, probably predictably, was not the initially intended audience. Next steps were considered for the students who completed the project.
Download the presentation here
This session had three focus points relating to Religious Voices, a video documentary and teaching resource created by the students.
Firstly, the workshop focused on the process of creating the resource which centred on the idea of student facilitation, empowerment and developing essential life skills during the process.
Secondly, the resource was discussed which gives an authentic voice to the often overlooked religious minority groups in post-conflict Northern Ireland. The challenge of dealing with the present was explored, where racially motivated hate crimes outnumber sectarian hate crimes, in a society struggling to come to terms with its past.
Finally, the impact of the resource was considered which, probably predictably, was not the initially intended audience. Next steps were considered for the students who completed the project.
Download the presentation here
Workshop 5: Challenging Racism in schools
The session focused on identifying what racism looks like and how to respond. Participants developed their understanding of racism, the Equality Act 2010 and how hate can escalate. Strategies were explored for challenging stereotypes in the classroom using resources and activities that work in schools.
The session focused on identifying what racism looks like and how to respond. Participants developed their understanding of racism, the Equality Act 2010 and how hate can escalate. Strategies were explored for challenging stereotypes in the classroom using resources and activities that work in schools.
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Workshop 6: Schools of Sanctuary
A School of Sanctuary is a school that is committed to being a safe and welcoming place for those whose lives were in danger in their own country, who have troubles at home or who are just looking for a space of safety. It is a school that helps its students, staff and wider community extend a welcome to everyone as equal, valued members of the school community. This workshop will explore practical skills, community resources and strategies that can be utilised to create and support a school culture of safety and inclusion for all. During the session materials that have been created by students were shared as the issues are explored. Download the presentation here |
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