Development of civic education in primary and secondary schools

Description

Civic education is formally delivered only by means of elementary and secondary schools. At the moment (2020-2025), the Rámcový vzdělávací program (Czech national eduactional curriculum) for elementary schools is being revised. At its preparation phase (so called „malá revize“ (little revision) ) some civic topics have been removed from the curriculum in favour of other subjects. Unless there is significant pressure on the policy creators, civic education as a part of the wider curriculum will gradually diminish in importance. AUOV is the only relatively big enough cover organization of civics (občansá výchova and základy společenských věd) teachers. It has the potential to play a significant role in future debate but due to its current structure, it is not ready to do so. Therefore it must build its own strategy and besides supporting teachers in terms of methodology it must also play a role in policy making. Certain project activities will lead to this. Civics contain a number of current and controversial topics. Surveys and medial outcomes imply that both school managements and teachers are hesitant to include these topics in their curriculum. They are wary of populist politicians and also of intolerant parents of the students. This is why
methodologies guaranteeing high expertise for teaching selected topics will be prepared for teachers. Teachers will also be able to develop their own professional competencies with the use of the methodologies. A professional standard of civics teacher competence will be created.

Summary of project results

The project aimed to address several key issues and challenges in the realm of civic education and social studies. Here are the primary challenges it sought to tackle:

1. Outdated Teaching Methods: Traditional teaching methods in social studies and civic education often failed to engage students effectively or provide them with practical skills and knowledge relevant to current societal issues.
2. Lack of Resources: Teachers often lacked up-to-date and relevant materials to teach contemporary and dynamically changing topics, making it difficult to address current events and issues in a timely manner.
3. Insufficient Training for Teachers: There was a need for ongoing professional development for teachers to ensure they were well-equipped to handle new teaching methods and the latest content in their curriculum.
4. Engagement with Real-World Issues: The project aimed to bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge and real-world application, helping students to understand and engage with real-life political, social, and legal issues.
5. Building Civic Responsibility: Encouraging students to become responsible citizens and understand their role in a democratic society was a central goal, aiming to foster a sense of civic duty and critical thinking skills.

The project sought to address these challenges by:

• Developing educational packages tailored to current events and issues.
• Organizing professional development workshops and seminars for teachers.
• Creating resources that encourage student participation and critical thinking.
• Facilitating exchanges of best practices among teachers through professional networks.
• Incorporating practical, real-world scenarios into lessons to make learning more engaging and relevant.

These efforts aimed to modernize civic education, provide teachers with necessary tools and support, and ultimately enhance the educational experience for students, preparing them for active and informed participation in society.

The project by the Association of Civics and Social Studies Teachers focused on developing civic education and media literacy. Here are the main activities and outputs of the project:

1. Development and Distribution of Educational Packages:
   • Iran Package: This package was released in response to current events in October 2023 and received excellent feedback.
   • Prison Package: This involved many stakeholders, including experts, non-profit organizations, offenders, and victims. The package was highly praised for its contribution to education.
   • MediaRating Package: Created in collaboration with the Independent Journalism Foundation, this package helped teachers and students discuss media credibility based on established categories.
2. Professional Development for Teachers:
   • Organization of seminars and webinars for teachers focusing on current topics and teaching methodology.
   • Providing opportunities for teachers to meet with experts and share experiences.
3. Piloting and Feedback:
   • Each educational package was piloted by a different teacher before being published on the website.
   • Teachers provided feedback that was incorporated into the final versions of the packages.
4. Raising Awareness and Collaboration:
   • Increasing awareness of the organization among academics, journalists, politicians, and officials.
   • Communicating with various experts and non-profit organizations, such as VOLONTÉ CZECH, which works with inmates and their families.
5. Growth of Membership Base:
   • The membership base grew by 80 teachers, bringing the total number of members to over 450.
   • Organizing teacher meetings, referred to as "spas for teachers," where they could share experiences and gain new knowledge.
6. Practical Feasibility of Lessons:
   • Creating lessons that are 100% feasible under school conditions, given that all team members have full-time teaching positions.
   • Lessons often model real-life situations, which greatly engage students and lead to lively discussions based on available and verified facts.

These activities and outputs contributed to the modernization of civic education, provided teachers with the necessary tools and support, and enhanced the educational experiences of students, preparing them for active and informed participation in society.

 The project by the Association of Civics and Social Studies Teachers achieved significant results that positively impacted various target groups. Here are the main outcomes and their impacts:

1. Teachers:
   • Professional Development: Teachers who participated in seminars and webinars gained new skills and knowledge. These trainings enabled them to teach civics and social studies more effectively and relevantly.
   • New Educational Materials: Through the project packages, teachers had access to current and well-prepared educational materials that they could immediately use in their teaching.
2. Students:
   • Engaging and Current Lessons: Students experienced more engaging and current lessons that often focused on real-life situations and current events. This led to higher engagement and interest in the subject.
   • Development of Critical Thinking: Discussions and interactive teaching methods fostered the development of critical thinking and the ability to discuss complex social and political topics.
3. Academics, Journalists, Politicians, and Officials:
   • Increased Awareness: The project raised awareness about the importance of civics education among academics, journalists, politicians, and officials. This led to broader support and recognition of the subject''s importance in the educational system.
4. Wider Public and Non-Profit Organizations:
   • Collaboration with Experts: The project involved collaboration with experts, non-profit organizations, and other key stakeholders. This contributed to richer content in the educational materials and the development of new partnerships.
   • Involvement of Various Stakeholders: For example, the prison package included experts, non-profit organizations, offenders, and victims, bringing different perspectives and enhancing the quality of the educational materials.
5. Organizational Growth and Sustainability:
   • Increase in Membership Base: The organization''s membership base grew by 80 new members, bringing the total to over 450 teachers.
   • Speed and Flexibility: The organization became faster and more flexible in developing and introducing new topics into teaching, setting it apart from traditional textbooks and other non-profit organizations.

Overall, the project brought many positive impacts to all involved groups, improved the quality of civics and social studies education, and contributed to the development of critical thinking and civic responsibility among students.