We need wifi in the school building so that everyone has access to the internet.
An action day to focus on classroom design because a beautiful classroom improves the learning atmosphere.
New keyboards in the computer lab because we need functioning keys again.
Class trip to Italy, because we want to decide for ourselves where to go.
We need a snack machine that we don’t have to go look for food during our breaks.
Hi, I am Jasmin and I am Selvi.
We visited the Ellen Key School in Berlin.
The students there told us how they can help shape their everyday school life.
And what all this has to do with a smartphone,
you can find out in this video.
In our class, we are currently using the online platform Aula.
In this app, we can decide on how we want to design our school day and our classrooms.
At the beginning, we collect ideas and write them in the app.
Then we discuss these suggestions online and in class.
And at the end we decide which suggestions we like and which we don't.
There is a problem with the traditional school system in Germany:
Students are often signaled that their opinions are not even asked.
Through participation platforms such as Aula, students can develop the confidence
that they themselves can help shape the future.
The Aula Contract
A group of teachers and students met regularly for a year to consider
how co-decision can function at eye level in the school.
The results of these discussions were summarized in a contract...
the so-called Aula contract.
The Aula contract is an agreement between the school administration and the students
about how to use the Aula app and how to contribute ideas there.
In the Aula contract there are also a few rules about what you are not allowed to do.
You are not allowed to have personal conflicts in the app. You are not allowed to use insults
and you are not allowed to discriminate against anyone.
If a person does not comply with the rules,
his/her Aula account will be suspended for a certain period of time.
The process is important for the students of this school because democracy has to be learned.
It is important for the students to know that the contract was not only made by teachers and the school management,
but that two students were also involved and participated in it.
The students can post their ideas on the online platform at any time.
Their fellow students can then like them, comment on them, or make suggestions for improvement.
If the suggestion gets enough likes, the person with the idea can start
working on a plan for implementation and financing.
In order for the whole thing to work, it is then supported by facilitators.
Facilitators are responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly on the platform.
They can help other students to formulate ideas and ultimately support them in implementing them.
I am a facilitator because I can ensure democracy, i.e. co-decision, in our school.
It is especially important because we students are here every day and should therefore have a say.
But before the idea can be voted on, it has to be checked by the school management
to see if it can be implemented at all.
Can the school board reject an idea if they don't like it?
No!
The contract also states that the school management simply cannot reject an idea
as long as it doesn't violate school law or other laws just because they don’t like the idea.
At that time, the idea is on the desk of the school director and must therefore already be completely formulated.
It must be clear exactly what the idea is, whether it costs money, if so, who will pay for it,
who will implement it, when it is to be implemented?
After an idea gets the approval of the school management,
the persons who proposed the idea can start advertising for it.
Teams are then formed that are responsible for implementation.
Encourage participation
The school must create conditions so that students can actually participate on the online platform.
It must ensure that tablets or computers are available and that there is wifi.
In the best case, the school also ensures that there is a dedicated Aula-hour during school hours
when students can discuss their ideas.
So that the students and teachers don't have to use their free time to get involved.
The example of the Ellen Key School shows that co-decision should be an integral part of the school system.
Through apps like Aula, students learn to take responsibility, to be creative and to change things.
all important skills that are needed for the future and the rest of life.