Metode deucație nonformală

Nonformal educational methods - Some examples -

Living library

It is a nonformal method which targets the respect of human rights and dignity, the diversity in all its forms and the dialogue among people.

What makes it innovative and unique is the fact that the books on the shelves are humans facing prejudices or any other types of stereotypes (gender, age, education, hobbies, race, religion etc.).

They have a personal dialogue with �the reader�.

What is a living library?  A living library functions as a common one. Readers come and borrow ”books” for a limited period of time.  After “reading the books” (practically ”the reader and ” ”the book” have a dialogue), they bring them back at the library.

Purpose  Promoting respect for the human rights and dignity by starting a dialogue on prejudices and stereotypes.

Learning objectives

 To promote respect for human rights and human dignity;  To draw attention towards all types of divesity;  to stimulate dialogue.

Why this dialogue? … because most if the times the differences among people are not valued as resources but as causes of discrimination, suspicion and rejection.

What a reader of the living library must know!

ď‚´ Have you ever thought about your own prejudicies and stereotypes about other humans? Have you ever thought they might have prejudices about yourself? ď‚´ If you have prejudices on muslims or Jews, politicians or ticket controllers, art lovers or science lovers, priests or psychologists, feminists or gays, ex convicts, gipsies or disabled, but you never got the opportunity to talk to them to find the truth about their life, then there you are, ready to face your own prejudices and stereotypes.

Rules for readers:  Only readers who are registered and who accepted the rules are allowed to borrow books;  One can borrow only one book at a time;  One can not reserve a book in advance – this shall be done only at the right moment;  One can borrow a book only for 40’ and it shall be returned in due time at the library  One can extend the borrowing time directly or by calling with maximum 20’ ;  One must return the books in the same physical and mental state in which they were previously;  One is responsible for the book borrowed;  The reader accepts that there is the possibility that the book might leave the conversation in case this feels that is maltreated or dignity is affected.

What we have to know about the Living Library… as a Living Book!  Your role as a book is very important for the learning process of the readers: you must be convinced of your own role!  To choose the character which fits you best, you can choose among some book titles;  When you as a book are borrowed, decide with your reader a comfortable place for both of you;  Chech the time – you have limited time with your reader. If the reader wants you to spend more time with you, you should return to the librarian (only if you want it, too) and extend the time of the loan;  Be yourself, be honest, stay open to talk and to listen!;

Steps to follow when organizing a Living Library :  Identification of the library objectives;  Sharing responsabilites in the team (librarians, books, publicity);  Choosing the best location to organize the event;  Selection of ”the books” and making the registers (according to peronal characteristics, personal themes, personal experiences, religion, etc.);  Selection and training the librarians in order to manage the library;  Meeting for training the ”books” (speech organization, communicative skills etc.);  Promoting the library;  Carrying out the activities (”reading”);  Quantitative and qualitative assessment of the library,.

Don’t play/invent another role or characteristics, your reader will sense it and you will lose your credibility; Be ready to share your personal experience. If the questions get too intimate, feel free not to accept them; Think that your reader borrowed the book counting on the title and s(he) is interested in this dimension of your personality; Be ready to keep repeating the same information because different readers might ask you the same questions; Remember that you might meet your reader once in your life and it might not be a second chance; Every reader who borrows you has his own reasons and they can be very various.

A good question to start the conversation is ”Why have you picked me as a book?”

This will give you the first impression about the learning needs of the reader.

FRISCOMethod  Definition – it is a method to solve a problem by interpreting a specific role.  Stages 1. Problem identification 2. Sharing roles: C-Conservative E-Exuberant P- Pesimist O-Optimist 3. Debate the problem 4. Organization of the ideas conclusions

Participants can be devided in teams in which they share roles (C, E, P, O) according to their own reflective style or, on the contrary, contradicting it, for more efficience.

World café The purpose - the method gives each participant the opportunity to express his opinion on a subject, to extend his vision and to find connecting points during the preparation of the subjects and the problems.

Course: Participants make groups of 4-6 people and freely chat on a topic, as in the cafe. Each group has the chance to discuss the same subject, on chapters. Conversations last for 20’ -40’ and at the end, only one person stays seated at the table, the others move at another table. The new table will offer the participants the chance to discuss ther most important ideas with the new comers, thus the questions and the problems combine with others from another table . The advisable number of courses 2-4. Flip-chart paper can be used on the table for writing the ideas..

The cafe atmosphere can be made up by some elements, objects.

Participants- 12-24 people (max. 5-6 people per table).

Evaluation consists of a summary made by the “table hosts�.

Developped competences: - asertivity - imposing interests - presentation abilities - colectaing and filtering info - sociale and civic competences - accepting other opinions - logical thinking - creativity

Good luck!!!