Nowadays, education for active and responsible citizenship plays a fundamental role in the development of students. In an increasingly complex and interconnected world, it is essential to prepare the new generations to be aware, critical and participating citizens. For teachers seeking innovative tools to promote this type of education in schools, the ACT-DI-V project is an indispensable resource.
The ACT-DI-V project was created with the aim of promoting citizenship education and critical thinking among students through dialogue and argumentation. Through collaboration with an international partnership and the provision of practical resources, the project aims to transform schools into places of active and aware citizenship.
The ACT-DI-V project partnership met in Nicosia, Cyprus, to discuss the next steps. During this phase, the current situations in schools regarding the promotion of active and responsible citizenship were explored. Focus groups and a survey of teachers and practitioners were conducted in order to gather valuable information and opinions.
Several conclusions emerged from the research highlighting the challenges and opportunities related to the promotion of active citizenship in schools. One of the key points is that students’ interest in current issues, such as the environment, can be used as a starting point to engage them in active citizenship. However, teachers face obstacles such as lack of time and the need to establish a dialogue with families and external organisations.
To overcome these obstacles and effectively promote active citizenship, some key strategies have been identified. First, it is crucial to develop critical thinking skills and constructive dialogue among students. Through debates, group discussions and teamwork, students can learn to express their opinions respectfully and critically evaluate social and ethical issues.
In addition, involving families and external organisations is crucial to create a support network that promotes active citizenship at both school and community levels. Meetings with parents, collaborations with local organisations and voluntary activities are just some of the possible ways to involve stakeholders.
Finally, to make active citizenship education even more effective, it is important to offer students practical experiences outside school: visits to government institutions, participation in service projects and other activities that put them in direct contact with reality can enrich the learning process.
The report of the research phase of the ACT-DI-V project provided valuable information and reflections on the promotion of active citizenship in schools, and it will soon be available. The need for appropriate training for teachers and practical tools to implement classroom activities emerged. Education for active and responsible citizenship is essential to form aware and participating citizens, and the ACT-DI-V project stands as a fundamental resource for teachers who want to create an educational environment that fosters this development.
For more information about ACT-DI-V click here or contact Riccardo Bellavista: riccardo.bellavista@danilodolci.org.
ACT-DI-V is a project funded by the Erasmus+ Programme – Key Action 2 – Cooperation partnerships in school education.
Partners
- Coordinator: EDEX – EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE CORPORATION LIMITED, Cyprus
- UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA, Portugal
- CENTRO PER LO SVILUPPO CREATIVO DANILO DOLCI, Italy
- HUMBOLDTUNIVERSITAET ZU BERLIN, Germany