Project activities in more detail
I Development of a Framework and a Policy for Education for Democracy
II Curriculum and materials development
III Training of teachers and teacher-trainers
IV Creation of Resource Centres
V Network of Educators for Democracy
VI Timeline
II. Curriculum and Materials Development
One of the core activities in the Education for Democracy in Ukraine Project is to prepare courses and teaching manuals for the secondary school grades 9 - 11. Special attention is given to a flexible approach. The curriculum and the materials that are developed will be of use for a separate school subject (like 'civics' or 'social studies') and for the modules that can be integrated into existing subjects.
Study Tour
In October 2000 a group of 15 Ukrainian teachers, teacher trainers and policy makers participated in a study tour to Europe. The objective of the tour to Europe was to provide professional insight in the functioning of parliamentary democracy, education system, teacher training, education curricula and methods and policies of citizenship education in the Netherlands, France and Germany. A similar tour to the USA was organized by the American partner of the project.
Since the teams that participate in the tours are the core groups in developing teaching materials, an open competition was held to select them. Applicants had to write an essay about learning democratic citizenship at school and a lesson plan on a civics topic. The essay, the lesson plan plus their curriculum vitae were the basis for the selection of the groups.
Curriculum for Education for Democracy in grades 9 - 11
Starting in November 2000, the participants of the study tour to Europe met for four workshops in Kyiv to develop a curriculum for education for democracy. Some specialists from the Ministry of Education and Science and the Academy of Pedagogical Science of Ukraine attended the meeting.
The objectives of the workshops were:
- to analyse the findings of the study tour;
- to assess what Western teaching methods and materials can be implemented and/or adapted for use in Ukraine;
- to work out a draft curriculum for education for democracy per grade level and per subject.
The draft curriculum was distributed and discussed among teachers and teacher trainers, and got the approval of the Ukrainian Ministry of Education. The curriculum is available in the EFDU Kiev office and on the web-site.
The themes that were selected for the use in classroom are:
Theme:
9 grade
- Introduction
- Rights and duties
- Stereotypes. Conflicts
- Family. School. Environment
10 grade
- Civil society
- Political institutions and processes
- Democracy. Elections
- Mass media
11 grade
- Market
- Social security
- Multiculturalism
- Ukraine and the world
Production of Lessons
Small working groups have been created to write pupil and teacher materials on the basis of the curriculum. The materials include: a textbook, a teacher manual, and testing and evaluation materials. The draft teaching materials will be piloted in schools in various regions of Ukraine.
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