Project Funding: “Don’t Panic!” Political education from the home
In view of the Covid pandemic, school operations were quickly switched to home schooling. The “Don’t Panic” project by Sapere Aude provides teachers with teaching materials related to the Covid crisis, and it focuses on the political dimensions of the issue. This provides a sense of security and makes it possible to better deal with the challenges of the crisis.
Keywords:
civic education, e-learning, Covid
Initial Situation
Since the middle of March, 2020, Austrian children have been home-schooled. Schools had to switch to online teaching in a very short time. The Covid crisis poses great challenges to every individual: logistically, economically, socially and politically – but also emotionally and spiritually as we are challenged to find appropriate ways to deal with the uncertainty and risk.
Solution Approach
Supporting teachers in the pedagogical design of the current school reality with a focus on reflecting on the political dimensions of the Covid pandemic.
The Project
The “Keine Panik” (“Don’t Panic”) project provides teachers with teaching and learning videos, working materials and a toolkit to deal with the pandemic didactically. In addition to dealing directly with the Covid virus and its social and political effects, the project provides a framework for dealing with disasters and crises, the role of the media as well as handling fake news, the effects on democracy and human rights, and concludes with a focus on positive global trends and developments that can arise as opportunities from every crisis. The knowledge imparted boosts confidence in dealing with the current challenge and helps to cope with it on a political and individual level.
The Effects
Direct results (output): participating teachers can design their online classes on “Civic education in global crises using the example of the Covid pandemic” with little effort.
Medium-term effects (outcome): both teachers and children engage with the political dimension of the Covid crisis and comparable events, generating action knowledge, empowerment and opportunities for participation.
Long-term effects (impact): reflexivity in the face of current and future political challenges is improved, awareness of measures, options for action as well as prevention increase and the collective resilience of society is strengthened.
Cooperation Partners
