Understanding diversity – Teaching modules and methods to promote critical and differentiated perspectives on identity and diversity Erasmus Project

Project Title

Understanding diversity – Teaching modules and methods to promote critical and differentiated perspectives on identity and diversity

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 adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2018

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Gender equality / equal opportunities; Intercultural/intergenerational education and (lifelong)learning; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses

Project Summary

The multilingual platform EduSkills+ Diversity Education is dedicated to different cosmopolitan education strategies and their growing importance in the European and international context. It provides free materials to educational staff and other interested parties in order to help them address and discuss current societal challenges which are linked to diversity. Grand societal challenges, such as intra-European and international migration and globalization, affect educational and social systems. More precisely, these changes entail new opportunities and challenges for educational institutions and youth welfare. In order to respond to the changing societal landscape we live in, besides transferring knowledge to learners, educational staff needs to develop strong social skills and be able to understand complicated contexts in order to foster diversity and a mutual understanding within the community.

Therefore, a European team of experts has developed materials available in seven languages: Bulgarian, German, Greek, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian and Slovenian. A comprehensive education package in the field of diversity education is now available online with the aim to meet the European education community’s need for materials aiming at creation of an anti-discriminatory society. This educational package includes a handbook, methods, and templates for the implementation of competence training. It enables multipliers and professionals to understand the basic forms of discrimination, try out interactive techniques, and critically reflect on their own perspectives in this field. The selection of materials is intended to sensitize and show possibilities for action in the sense of Global Education: “Global Education is education that opens people’s eyes and minds to the realities of the world, and awakens them to bring about a world of greater justice, equity and human rights for all.” – Maastricht Global Education Declaration, 2002

Exchange of experience among the staff of the partner organizations has led to the development of materials using modern didactic tools. Now, pedagogical staff across Europe is provided with ample materials and methods to promote critical and differentiated perspectives on identity and diversity. The main target group of the project ‘Understanding Diversity Together’ is motivated educational staff which is interested in learning about strategies for cosmopolitan engagement and improving education in the field of diversity. However, the EduSkills+ online platform is open to other interested individuals as well. The developed teaching package comprises three units: a handbook, numerous modules, and templates and materials for the implementation of competence training.

Handbook
The online handbook for educational staff provides an introduction to the topic of diversity and in-depth knowledge in the following fields:
– Cultural, ethnic and religious diversity
– Gender and sexual diversity
– Social diversity
A European approach is applied and combined with useful facts and figures to support the teaching material. The handbook is available as an interactive website text.

Methods
Creative methods covering the topics from the handbook can be used in training, workshops, or classes. A playful and active approach raises awareness of different levels of diversity and is fun for groups of all ages. All materials include information on:
– Age, group size, duration
– Number of instructors needed
– Working materials and expected costs
– Objective of the exercise
– Preparation, process, and follow-up
– Ready to use, downloadable and printable templates
All methods support the development of skills necessary for active participation in democratic processes, critical thinking, and living in diverse societies. The techniques can be used both, online and offline.

Competence training
A guide and accompanying material enable users to conduct a competence training on diversity issues on their own.
– Guide
– Agenda
– Checklist
– Questionnaire for experience reports
– Questionnaire for participants’ feedback
The materials allow users to deliver diversity-awareness competence training on their own and to convey various aspects of diversity to the target group.

Project Website

https://divedu.eduskills.plus

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 296976 Eur

Project Coordinator

STUDIO GAUS GMBH & Country: DE

Project Partners

• Liceul Teoretic “Nikolaus Lenau”
• Inter-kulturo mednarodni kulturno izobraževalni center d.o.o.
• SUDWIND VEREIN FUR ENTWICKLUNGSPOLITIK UND GLOBALE GERECHTIGKEIT
• KgKJH LSA e.V.
• Klaipedos Hermano Zudermano gimnazija
• FUNDACJA KRZYZOWA DLA POROZUMIENIA EUROPEJSKIEGO
• GENIKO LYKEIO ALIKIANOU