Frankfurt Open Courseware

Objective: Learners reflect upon the positive effects of community participation.
Learning outcomes: Learners are able to name effects of community participation and are able to examine representations of community participation. They are also able to design their own representations
Previous knowledge: none
Duration: 60 minutes
Materials / Conditions: Paper and coloured pencils for drawing a picture
Methods / Techniques: Describing, reflecting, creating/ drawing
Learning subject: Citizenship/ Module 1: community life and participation/ First contact

Introduction:
Working together for a common goal which is a positive development for the whole community can be a rewarding experience. In this learning activity you will explore the effects of the community participation for the individual participant and for the whole community as well

Instruction:
1.) Look at the picture provided in the resource section. Name, and write down any keywords that come to your mind. Especially focus on the symbols which are being used!

2.) The picture shows four people each holding a piece of a puzzle. Each piece has a different colour, but the pieces fit together and the outcome is a puzzle shared by everyone. This aims to illustrate the idea of community participation: Different people come together to become involved in a project which should help all of them.
2.1): Explain in your own words to someone what community participation is generally about, how it could be possible to implement it and which preconditions should be met for it to be implemented.
2.2): Think about reasons for participating in a project inside your community and create a list of:

1. The effects community participation could have on the individual participant.
   
2. The effects community participation could have on the whole community.
   

3.) Look at the picture again. Examine, weather it represents the reasons you came up with in task 2 appropriately! How would you improve the picture to include other aspects? Develop your own picture representing community participation!

Resources:

altered from: http://www.inclusionplus.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/puzzle21.jpg (04.08.2016)

Possible results / Results:
1.)Possible keywords could include: cooperation, different groups, matching up, colours, responsibility, common goals, puzzle, beginning of further development, joining forces, etc.

2.)Reasons listed for working together could include: exchanging ideas and thus better results; getting feedback; giving feedback; more people results in more ideas; if everyone is involved in participating, the results are suitable for every individual, etc. Positive effects of community participation on the individual could include: consideration for others; accepting other opinions; valuing other perspectives, etc. Positive effects of community participation on the community: a more just community; people are more content; stronger bonds between people of the community; less conflicts after common solution, etc.

3.) Learners create their own representation of community participation

Related activities:

Author:
Isabelle Muschaweck