Controversial Issues in School and Society (History/Religion)
This interdisciplinary course draws on perspectives from Life enlightenment education, history, and religious studies.
The course will have particular emphasis on developing didactic approaches that foster the growth of students’ intercultural and democratic competencies, as well as their ability to establish and engage in a dialogic classroom environment.
The course addresses the following questions:
- How should a teacher address controversial issues in order to guarantee the development of students’ critical thinking skills in a democratic society?
- How can we as teachers approach controversial issues in a comprehensive, practical and respectful way, incorporating the voices of all the people involved?
- How can the autonomous teacher integrate differences in languages and cultures to create an environment of tolerance, teamwork and curiosity in a classroom?
We will draw on multiple academic approaches, including historical, religious, philosophical, and sociological perspectives, in the exploration of these questions.
There will be an emphasis on the following approaches to teaching:
- Multiperspectivity
- Dialogue
- Intercultural didactics
- Group work
- Fieldwork and outdoor education
Participants will be tasked with exploring the role of schools in their home countries and will regularly be encouraged to share examples of controversial issues from their own cultural contexts.
Participation requirements: 80% attendance and completion of a mandatory product.
Mandatory product: In groups, students will investigate a self-selected field that falls under the subject “Controversial Issues in School and Society”. The investigation will culminate in a presentation. The study product may involve fieldwork, the creation of a creative product, and/or an activity for the group.
Final exam and workshop: Workshop and written assignment.