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Anna Lindh Foundation

The Enquiring Classroom
Enquiring-Classroom.webp
Author: O’Donnell, A., Kieran, P., Cherouvis, S. & Bergdahl, L.
Publisher: Curriculum Development Unit, Limerick.
Year of Publication: 2023
Subtitle

Values, Identity, Exploration.
Abstract

The Enquiring Classroom (TEC) was developed in order to progress inclusive and pluralistic pedagogical approaches to address pressing contemporary questions in relation to democracy, values, identity, integration, religions, beliefs and (forced) migration in educational settings. Whilst a number of approaches address individual issues like citizenship or racism or religion, the TEC project aimed to create pluralistic pedagogies to support teachers in facilitating engagement with a wide range of contemporary questions, supported by a clear philosophy of education. These approaches were designed be incorporated either into existing curricula through a permeated approach or discrete thematic pedagogical interventions. Four key issues drove this in 2016: 1. Forced migration and education of children who were refugees and asylum seekers; 2. Shifts towards more securitised approaches to education that risked shutting down spaces for discussion; 3. The need for educational spaces to invite reflection and dialogue about values, religions and beliefs in the European context; 4. The demand amongst educators for facilitation skills and capacity building in particular in relation to engaging with difficult or challenging topics in schools. The choice of Greece, Ireland, and Sweden was informed by divergent responses and experiences to the refugee crisis, to the question of migration, and to the role of religion in society. Objectives: The primary objective was to build capacity with educators by creating genuinely inclusive pedagogical strategies and training in facilitation to foster a wide range of educational experiences and foreground the voice of young people. This innovative, comprehensive, and pluralistic approach to enquiry based learning aimed to support facilitation of meaningful, open, responsible, and respectful discussion and debate about complex ethical, social, political and religious issues in classrooms. .

Countries

Ireland
Region

Europe

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