OKTOBER NEWS 2021
News from Norway: We had a fruitfull 2. transnational meeting with our Action for future project where we finally met live.
News from Germany: Brainwriting is another method to support the «Design Thinking» process. The youth clubs in Berchtesgadener Land used the brainwriting tool to develop their planning steps. For this purpose, all those involved come together at one table. At the beginning each «brainwriter» can take an index card and label it with ONE of his/her ideas. This card is then passed on to the new neighbors turn. After a quick review, they can decide wether they want to add something to the card or simply pass on it. For every new idea a new card starts off on its journey. If you get one of your card back and you can`t add anything to it yourself, this card is placed in the middle of the table on a pile. When the creativity subsides and no more new perspectives and suggestions emerge, the Brainwriting is over.
News from Italy : Design Thinking: best practice for the education
During the international conference held in Ljubljana from 7/10 to 9/10 dedicated to integrated leadership in school practice (ILSP project), Silvia Lecchi, who is AFP Patronato San Vincenzo referent teacher on the project, presented Design thinking as a best practice for the educational world, also presenting the project and the results obtained so far.
The conference was attended by teachers, trainers, school leaders from Italy, Slovenia, Estonia, Belgium and the Czech Republic.
The actions envisaged by the Action For Future project have been taken as a positive example of how Design Thinking is strategic in the education sector.
The Design Thinking concept for education is a problem-based learning paradigm that builds on three pillars: full awareness about the problem to be solved and the people involved, creative problem-solving skills, active engagement of all the participants in the action-oriented exercise.
The essence of Design Thinking is to put participants into contexts that make them think and work toward the solution of a question thereby developing empathy, cultural awareness as well as critical thinking and willingness to take action.
It has roots in and interconnections to participatory design, serious play (e.g. construction bricks), bricolage, tinkering and making, sharing both tools and techniques as well as characteristic traits and outcomes.
Motivations for using Design Thinking in education are typically multifaceted: educators are hoping for surprising ideas, elegant solutions and novel concepts, they want to facilitate a learning event in a new format, and induce transferable skills and competencies among the participants. Cooperative learning, empathy, positivity and critical thinking toward a feasible solution will empower the students with self-confidence and promote an active citizenship further on.
In this context the «Action for Future» project combines the efforts of 5 partners, supporting adult trainers in the delivery of training to young adults in risk through the design thinking methodology for civic engagement and participation.
News from Austria: Our Associated Partner in Austria: Fair & Sensibel Österreich
The Verein Fair und Sensibel Österreich (“Association for Fairness and Sensitivity“),www.fairundsensibel.at, is a reknown Austrian organisation dedicated to improve understanding and cooperation within society, in particular bringing together people of different backgrounds and origins. Verein Fair und Sensibel supports disadvantaged groups of society in Austria, especially young people. The association is affiliated with the Vienna Police Department, works with responsible ministries and stakeholders and organises various initiatives, projects and events in order to foster respective sensitisation and active understanding within society. In addition, the association is dedicated to improving the life conditions of disadvantaged groups by educational and cultural activities. Fair und Sensibel is very experienced in national and international projects and disposes of a wide and active network of relevant stakeholders in the Austrian context.
As a long-term cooperation partner of the Action for Future Austrian partner BEST, Fair and Sensibel provides support by delivering regular workshops to young learners, for example on civic courage and engagement, active participation in society and intercultural communication.