Dissemination of innovative education through storytelling using modern non-formal education Erasmus Project

Project Title

Dissemination of innovative education through storytelling using modern non-formal education

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for youth

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Inclusion – equity; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship; Romas and/or other minorities

Project Summary

Our goal is to disseminate verified outputs from the successfully completed project 2016-3-SK02-KA205-001203. It focused on building inclusion and understanding between disadvantaged groups of people and the majority of society in the Slovak and Czech Republic using an online storytelling tool for building critical thinking – Online Live Library. In this project, we want to multiply it as part of the accredited education of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic in the framework of the “4-vé Academy of Critical Thinking Development”. At the same time, our goal is to disseminate this proven method for building critical thinking in other countries. It is precisely through the dissemination and multiplication of already proven practices using our storytelling tool to build critical thinking that we will be able to open education in a new era of digital skills while improving the higher education system.

Current situation/problem that we want to solve by implementing this project:
In Slovakia, there is no systematic tool for building critical thinking that would focus on disadvantaged groups of the population. At the same time, people are facing a lot of misinformation, which is spread by conspiracy media. More than half of the teachers would recommend their students to watch disinformation media such as “Headlines” and “Earth and Age”. People in Slovakia are not satisfied with how teachers approach pupils. More than three-quarters (76%) of respondents believe their approach should be improved (Focus survey on a sample of 523 primary school teachers, July 2019). Seven percent of teachers have a predisposition to right-wing extremist politics (Survey Demand for Right-wing Extremism among Teachers at Second Stage of Primary Schools, Focus Agency, April 2019).

Solution
As one of the tools of the Critical Thinking 4-vé Academy, the online living library has proven to help build critical thinking and sensitize its users. It is also recommended by the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the SR, namely in the issued Educational and Organizational Instructions for the school year 2019-2020 (https://www.minedu.sk/data/att/14770.pdf), specifically in point 1.5.4. Inclusive education. Quote here: “1.5.4 Inclusive education 1. In support of inclusive education, it is recommended to use innovative technologies and experiential learning with sensitizing elements, educational portals with methodological guidance on inclusive education (eg Online Living Library, Stories that move) We have also verified the tool in the university environment – Department of Psychology and Pathopsychology, Faculty of Education, Comenius University in Bratislava, where 72 students used the Online Living Library in one semester. At the same time, we will use the most modern technological tool for building critical thinking – virtual reality. We have professionally filmed 5 stories of people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds – Deaf, blind, young Roma, homeless person and physically handicapped person.

Project objectives:
The aim of our project is to disseminate the know-how gained by introducing innovations in forming critical youth thinking through storytelling (project K2 implemented 02/2017 – 01/2019) and thus support acceptance of diversity in society and develop critical thinking among young people through proven forms of storytelling.

Specific objectives of the project:
(a) developing competences in the field of emotional and intercultural education, storytelling and critical thinking for the following target groups:
– university teachers,
– University students (focusing on future teachers and assisting professionals)
– youth workers
– international youth workers and training professionals
– Employees of companies dealing with CSR in their companies

b) raising public awareness of the lives of people with disabilities and strengthening empathy and critical thinking
Final beneficiaries of the project:
– teachers and students at universities (final beneficiaries of the project), at the same time young people and volunteers who take advantage of the opportunity to participate in the organization of school and extracurricular projects that support the sensitization of youth towards vulnerable groups
– people with obstacles in society who convey their life story for learning groups involved in educational activities aimed at disseminating know-how

The results of this project will be disseminated primarily by the participants of training themselves. Subsequently, they will be disseminated secondarily to their surroundings / their colleagues / their pupils, who will learn new information about educational methods as well as the needs of vulnerable groups. At the end of this project, we will continue our work – to train teachers, pupils, the nonprofit sector and business professionals on storytelling and how to build critical thinking about the vulnerable groups around us.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 134576 Eur

Project Coordinator

EDUMA, n.o. & Country: SK

Project Partners

• GLAFKA s.r.o.