How could Teacher Education contribute to the development of European Citizenship Literacy ?

International Conference June ISTEPEC Intercultural Studies in Teacher Education to Promote European Citizenship

International Conference June The aim is to help trainee teachers develop professional competences (= knowledge, skills and attitudes) in the area of European citizenship education

International Conference June ISTEPEC A Comenius 2.1 programme with Comenius 2.2 mobility grants for 240 trainees 2004 – 2007 (3 years)

International Conference June ISTEPEC A network of 10 partner institutions in 9 countries –Stockholm (Se), Tilburg (Nl), Exeter (UK) –Poznan (Pl), Kecksemét (Hu), Banska Bystriça (Sk) –Catania (It), Cordoba (Es), IUFM de Bretagne (Fr)

International Conference June European Modules 2 week-modules Designed collaboratively Implemented in each institution –Different contexts –Slightly different emphases or focuses An average of 16 participants from a variety of countries in each module 3 working languages: Spanish, English & French

International Conference June European Modules Work schedule : –1/3 Workshops –1/3 classroom observation & practice –1/3 personal work Initiation to the host language (Polish, Slovak, etc.) Cultural week ends and social evenings related to the general theme of the module

International Conference June Before & after the modules Preparation in the institutions of origin Collaborative work on the distance learning platform (QuickPlace) Production of possible lesson plans to introduce European Citizenship Education at various levels (see examples on QuickPlace)

International Conference June Criteria for lesson plans The productions must show evidence of: –Learning from the new environment (learning to look, listen and feel) –Emphasis on innovative teaching: Independent research Discovery learning Active learning Contextual learning Use of ICT

International Conference June The rationale behind the modules Interactive workshops Reflective approach : from experience to professional knowledge => Transferable skills

International Conference June How did we define the contents and select the ressources for the workshops? Based on the notions of: –Citizenship literacy –European citizenship –Intercultural understanding

International Conference June Citizenship Literacy The notion of literacy : the state of being able to decipher and to produce artefacts in one given area of science – AND to act accordingly « literacy » can apply to any area; i.e. numerical literacy => numeracy Thence = citizenship literacy

International Conference June Citizenship Literacy Three components : –Thought –Language –Action

International Conference June Citizenship Literacy Thought –Food for thought: necessary input of knowledge –Questioning, investigating, probing (the scientific approach) –Autonomous critical thinking

International Conference June Citizenship Literacy Language –Understanding and decoding language (including the media and the arts –all forms of mediation between the world and the self) –Expressing one’s opinions, ideas, feelings and emotions without becoming aggressive or violent –Debating, negotiating

International Conference June Citizenship Literacy Action –As a teacher –As a person –As a citizen (civic rights and duties)

International Conference June European Citizenship The idea of Europe : a historical and geo- political perspective The cultures (including values) & languages of Europe The European Institutions today Europe in today’s world; a few burning issues

International Conference June Intercultural Understanding De facto composition of the groups –International –Interdisciplinary –Interlevels (primary & secondary together) Finding out about professional cultures Eliciting the representations of « identity » and « identities » Intercultural practices during the workshop

International Conference June Examples of activities 6 thinking Hats Forum Theatre All kinds of People City magazines Films Monuments, architecture and history Etc…

International Conference June Value Added ? For the teacher trainers For the host teachers in schools For the trainees For the pupils For the institutions

International Conference June Looking towards the future European modules in the partner institutions as part of the « ordinary » teacher training course ECTS credits make mobility easier A future European master’s degree for teachers ?

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