TASKs for democracy

Tips for trainers
This is an activity for individual and group self-reflection and learning. It can be done by one teacher
with a class of pupils, or it can be done by a team of teachers with all their pupils as well as by the
whole school. The more levels are involved the longer the activity will last, but at the same time,
it will also produce more pertinent results. The scheme below describes one cycle. If it is repeated
several times over a longer period it will result in a more beneficial and stronger impact on the
learning processes.
Telling each level about the choice of significant changes made at the other levels is an essential
component of the whole process. This helps readjust the focus of searches for significant change in
each subsequent reporting period.
Introduction – 30 minutes
All the people involved in the learning process (e.g. a teacher and a class) gather for 30 minutes and are
introduced to the different phases of this recognition activity. The introduction should at least include the
following items:
Background of the technique
Aims and expected outcome of the technique
Nature of the tasks to be carried out (writing narratives, exchanging and discussing narratives, analysing
narratives, drawing conclusions)
Overview of the phases
ACTIVITY 1 “WHAT HAS CHANGED FOR ME?” – 55 MINUTES
Resources
One sheet of A4 paper per person, writing implements
Alternatively, computers and online working spaces
Practical arrangements
The participants need to be able to concentrate on writing and the spatial arrangements should allow for
quiet thinking and working. This may necessitate splitting the group up across several rooms. If computers
are used it is imperative that each participant be able to use them simultaneously.
Instructions
1. Answer the following question in writing.
“Looking back over the last [month, weeks, days], what was the most significant change for you with regard to [a
particular domain of change/overall learning aim]?”
2. You have 45 minutes for this task.
3. After 45 minutes please return to this room with your text (alternatively, with the text uploaded).
Tips and potential difficulties
You might have to explain what a significant change is. Stress that it will probably be different for
different people since the question is what each individual feels is significant for them, not for
the group as a whole and not for the outside world. This part comes later through a process of
collaborative work.
Be very clear as to the domain/learning aim the change refers to and make sure that everyone
understands this.
TASKs for democracy Page 314