Prof. Dr. Alexandra Geisler (Fachhochschule Dresden FHD)
(Germany)
Topic: “Traveling Tools” - diversity-sensitive method cases
Language: English
Abstract
The diversity dimensions that exist in our society and in every group, the changing lifestyles and the fears, prejudices and exclusions that often go hand in hand with them should be met with pedagogical openness at an early stage.
This pedagogical openness also arises from a human rights perspective and in particular from a child rights perspective. If diversity is addressed in an age-appropriate and appreciative manner at an early stage, children are given the opportunity to name their perceived differences, to talk about them and to build up a positive self-image. At the same time, children are made aware of human diversity and how to treat each other with solidarity and appreciation.
However, this requires books and materials that show diversity, because for instance stories are our truths/realities and they exist just as often as different people.
“Traveling tools” - diversity-sensitive method cases make it possible that “other” story(s) can be told, because other - hidden / marginalized - story(s) are important, so that knowledge is expanded, blind spots are detected, previous “normalities” are questioned and changed.
In order to support pedagogical professionals to work in a diversity-sensitive way and to specifically address diversity-sensitive topics in a child-friendly way, diversity-sensitive method cases were developed (age-appropriate for kindergarten as well as elementary school/ after-school care), which are taught to
students of social work and provided to practical institutions in the field of social work for free use for a limited period of time before they travel further in the next.
In the presentation the main aspects of the method cases will be explained and also practically shown in one example method case.
This pedagogical openness also arises from a human rights perspective and in particular from a child rights perspective. If diversity is addressed in an age-appropriate and appreciative manner at an early stage, children are given the opportunity to name their perceived differences, to talk about them and to build up a positive self-image. At the same time, children are made aware of human diversity and how to treat each other with solidarity and appreciation.
However, this requires books and materials that show diversity, because for instance stories are our truths/realities and they exist just as often as different people.
“Traveling tools” - diversity-sensitive method cases make it possible that “other” story(s) can be told, because other - hidden / marginalized - story(s) are important, so that knowledge is expanded, blind spots are detected, previous “normalities” are questioned and changed.
In order to support pedagogical professionals to work in a diversity-sensitive way and to specifically address diversity-sensitive topics in a child-friendly way, diversity-sensitive method cases were developed (age-appropriate for kindergarten as well as elementary school/ after-school care), which are taught to
students of social work and provided to practical institutions in the field of social work for free use for a limited period of time before they travel further in the next.
In the presentation the main aspects of the method cases will be explained and also practically shown in one example method case.