Description of the project
The DD@S project believes in the strength of dialogue to tackle intolerance and discrimination at school to stimulate inclusive education all over Europe.
One of the major challenges that education faces is, in fact, the sociocultural and religious diversity in schools, both of pupils and teachers. Dealing with differences in norms, values and beliefs between pupils, teachers, parents or others can lead to controversies and polarization at school.
Studies have shown that confidence of teachers in facilitating dialogue about controversial themes is low and that one of the greatest difficulties the teachers are facing is the management of “difficult” classes (i.e., a class with relational, emotional and communication difficulties). Therefore, developing specific dialogue skills and creating a mutual dialogue, can contribute to an inclusive educational environment that fosters a sense of belonging between school team, teachers, pupils and parents.
The democratic dialogue method has proven to be effective in reinitiating dialogue, when controversy and conflict has taken the overhand. It also results in a positive attitude of teachers towards situations that are perceived as ‘being difficult to handle’. A constructive dialogue can change negative perceptions and contribute to a positive school climate. The method uses a mix of techniques, derived from intercultural communication, Socratic dialogue, non-violent communication and depolarisation techniques, encouraging an empathic and curious attitude towards the other, resulting in better understanding of the mechanisms that trigger controversy or conflict.
Democratic dialogue and the Reciprocal Maieutic Approach by Danilo Dolci will lead to the creation of an effective dialogue training that strengthens teachers in handling difficult situations at school.
The DD@S project aims to contribute in the professional development of teachers to acquire effective dialogue skills to cope with ethnic, religious and multicultural conflict situations at school, through the DD@S gamification based online training, implementing an accessible online training program for European teachers, that strengthens their dialogue skills to handle difficult situations at school.
Activities
- Online survey with 50-100 teachers per country for data collection and analysis of contextual background
- Focus Group with 10 teachers per country for selecting and drafting relevant training scenarios and simulation cases for the DD@S gamification based online training
- International Focus Group in Greece with 10 teachers per country, for the finalisation and testing of the training scenarios and simulation cases for the DD@S gamification based online training
- Testing and validation at National level of the DD@S gamification based online training
- Dissemination events at National level
- Final international training event in Brussels, with 25 teachers per country
Results
- DD@S Toolkit including good practices and methodological tools for teachers in democratic dialogue
- DD@S Teachers modules including a structured guide for teachers on dealing with controversial and diversity related conflicts at school by using the DD@S method
- DD@S Gamification based e-learning platform, providing an interactive online training for practicing democratic dialogue skills in different training scenarios
- DD@S E-publication with policy recommendations
PARTNERs
- Coordinator: Erasmushogeschool Brussel, Belgium
- Centro per lo Sviluppo Creativo Danilo Dolci, Italy
- Istituto D’Istruzione Superiore Einaudi Pareto, Italy
- Centre for Advancement of research and development in educational technology LTD (CARDET), Cyprus
- University of Nicosia (UNIC), Cyprus
- SYMPLEXIS, Greece
- Interorthodox Centre of the Church of Greece, Greece
- GO! technisch atheneum Zavelenberg Sint-Agatha-Berchem, Belgium
