Synopsis

What is democratic governance and how can it benefit universities and higher education institutions in preparing students to become participating, democratic adult citizens? How can universities and other higher education institutions evaluate how they contribute to their students' education for democratic citizenship?

The two authors, coming from both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, one a student, the other a professor, examine how deans, rectors and university staff can operate on a day-to-day basis, describe how the journey down the road towards democratic practice tends to take shape and help readers to estimate how far their establishment has come along this road. This guide offers practical advice on starting, continuing and evaluating the journey.

The guide is a result of co-operation between the Education for Democratic Citizenship and Human Rights and the Higher Education and Research programmes.

 

Synopsis

The project "Policies and practices for teaching sociocultural diversity" was launched by the Steering Committee for Education (CDED) in 2006, with the primary aim of promoting the recognition of diversity in pre-service teacher training and the management of diversity at school.

This publication is aimed at all staff in teacher education institutions. It intends to raise discussion about how teacher education, particularly in-service training, can prepare student teachers to become reflective professionals responsive to diversity in schools and classrooms. It addresses the urgent need to develop courses and practical training which stimulate the competence and reflection necessary to enhance inclusive environments where children and young people can learn to live together respecting differences.

This work offers an outline of the main principles underpinning work in the diversity area. It also introduces some key concepts related to sociocultural diversity in education while analysing some challenges in teacher education and development. It identifies policy measures and guidelines for teachers' pre-service training institutions

Synopsis

This publication sets out the core competences needed by teachers to put democratic citizenship and human rights into practice in the classroom, throughout the school and in the wider community. It is intended for all teachers - not only specialists but teachers in all subject areas - and teacher educators working in higher-education institutions or other settings, both in pre- and in-service training.

Some 15 competences are presented and grouped into four clusters. Each cluster of competences corresponds to one chapter, within which the competences are described in detail and exemplified. The reader will find progression grids and suggested developmental activities for each competence: these grids - featuring focusing, developing, established and advanced practice - aim to help teachers and teacher educators determine the level to which their professional practice corresponds, and thus identify specific and practical improvements upon which they can focus
 

Synopsis

This is a manual for teachers in Education for Democratic Citizenship (EDC) and Human Rights Education (HRE), EDC/HRE textbook editors and curriculum developers. Nine teaching units of approximately four lessons each focus on key concepts of EDC/HRE. The lesson plans give step-by-step instructions and include student handouts and background information for teachers. In this way, the manual is suited for trainees or beginners in the teaching profession and teachers who are receiving in-service teacher training in EDC/HRE. Experienced teachers may draw on the ideas and materials. The complete manual provides a full school year's curriculum for lower secondary classes, but as each unit is also complete in itself, the manual allows great flexibility in use.

The objective of EDC/HRE is the active citizen who is willing and able to participate in the democratic community. Therefore EDC/HRE strongly emphasise action and task-based learning. The school community is conceived as a sphere of authentic experience where young people can learn how to participate in democratic decision making and may take responsibility at an early age. Key concepts of EDC/HRE are taught as tools of life-long learning
 

Synopsis

The Council of Europe's work on history teaching in secondary schools, has three main thrusts: Curriculum development, textbooks and teaching materials, and teacher training. They should take into account societal developments and the cultural needs of coming generations. This pilot study is the first comparative study on the structures of initial training for history teachers to be carried out in several European countries. The aim of the study is to provide information that will raise the level of professionalism not only of history teaching, but also of teacher training.