Cards for Democracy – Teachers’ Edition
The Teachers’ Edition of the Cards for Democracy are a set of 72 cards developed by Learn to Change. They are meant for teachers to reflect on, examine and improve their attitudes, skills and knowledge to better support democratic processes and improve their own practices and behaviours.
The cards identify and describe key actions that people who are facilitating learning can develop to better act in a society in which democracy is a true process that is inclusive of all human beings.
The cards – and the activities and games we can do with them – propose that each and every individual has a responsibility for true democracy to live. It’s a right and also a struggle. Each and everyone of us can develop our:
Creative possibilities to imagine a moral and just society;
Willingness to act for the society we wish to live in;
Agency to change our environments with our vision in mind.
In this post we describe just one activity that can be done with these cards. Other activities will be added as we create them. This is collaborative work in progress. It has no ending!
It can be uplifting to experience how the values we hold dear can take many shapes. Values shape us and shape and govern the behaviour of everybody involved in any activity with any group.
The full set of Cards for Democracy in PDF format is available for download to members of Learn to Change.
If you are already a member, click on picture, download and print your own set now!
If you are not yet a member and would like to join and support Learn to Change, then click on the button below.
Through these activities, we develop our skills of active listening, co-operation, empathy, participation, responsibility, creativity, and capacity for respect.
Playing the game can – in a short time – generate a new norm in the group.
Playing the game strengthens members conviction that developing these attitudes, skills and knowledge & understandings is possible and paves the way to democracy.
The Activity – Speed Dating for Democracy
To help teachers develop competence for democratic practice through the development of attitudes, skills and knowledge & understandings for democracy.
- Participants will assess their own environment* in terms of mutual understanding, trust, respect, and solidarity, and excellence.
- They will consider how much I, he, she, we, as individuals, can contribute to a more democratic environment*.
*the environment can be of many sorts: classroom, school, university, sports club, training…
- Make sure you have printed all the cards and that you have enough for the number of players/participants.
- You need enough space for making two rows of participants and to move around comfortably. Alternatively, you can do this activity with the participants standing in two concentric circles.
After an icebreaker or introduction, organise a “speed-dating” activity:
- All the participants line up in 2 rows or stand in 2 concentric circles, facing each other to form pairs.
- Each pair receives a different card.
- Participants discuss with their partners what they already do in their practice to, for example, ‘manage discipline’ through cooperation.
- They also exchange ideas about what else can be done to develop the attitude, skill or knowledge/understanding referred to on the card.
- After 2 minutes with a partner, the row (or concentric circle) moves and everyone will be talking to a new partner about a new card for the next 2 minutes.
- Repeat, allowing participants to talk to as many different partners within the time available.