94411 - Citizenship Education and Active Participation

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student: - knows the theoretical foundations and reference models of active citizenship education; - knows good practices of educational interventions for the promotion of active citizenship; - is able to promote opportunities for participation in active citizenship practices in the community and globally; - is able to analyse the debate on the issues of empowerment and active citizenship as central problems of the complex and multidimensional changes of today's society.

Course contents

The course will be in the second semester and it will be in English. A B1 level of English is required. 

The course deals with the wide theme of the skills necessary to form citizens who are able to face the challenges of contemporary life and to meet and interpret forms of citizenship that are much broader than national or European ones, including global ones: a citizenship, therefore, aware and active, oriented to the values of civil coexistence and the common good, to the relationship with the environment according to sustainable approaches. In this perspective, active citizenship education is linked to the concepts of empowerment, the recognition of one's own and others' identity, autonomy, cooperation, the values of social solidarity and respect for the other, overcoming the discrimination of gender, to the possibilities of change. In particular, the course will present some fundamental concepts of citizenship education and active participation (identity, community, belonging, stereotypes/prejudges, to cite some of them) and, starting form these, we will focus on the role of the student and her/his active participation in civil society, school and university contexts as a "training gym" to exercise her/his citizenship rights and duties.

Readings/Bibliography

Readings will be available in the Virtuale Platform.

Teaching methods

The course uses an approach based on active and participatory learning. The teaching includes lectures, seminars and practical activities. Students will be required to play an active role through discussions, case studies, group work and research activities.

Class attendance is recommended.

Assessment methods

The final assessment is a written research paper (in English) about the course contents and the activities realized by students. All instructions on how to do this task are published on the Virtuale Platform.

Criteria to assess this paper will be:

- clarity in the presentation of the contents;
- ability to deepen and link the main issues;
- appropriateness in the use of specific terminology;
- critical analysis of the repercussions of the topics studied within socio-educational contexts;

-capacity to link theory and praxis.

The maximum possible score is 30, the minimum to pass is 18.

If rejected at the exam, it is possible to have a second chance.

Inscription to the exam on Almaesami website.

Teaching tools

Videoprojector, PC, videos.

Further teaching materials will be uploaded on Unibo platform.

Office hours

See the website of Elena Pacetti