News . Our Blog The Open School Declaration sparks hope for a more sustainable, empowering and innovative future

On March 17th the Connect project User Advisory Board convened to validate the Open School Declaration and discuss the further steps towards a broad and effective implementation of Open Schooling.

At the meeting, the experts discussed the Open Schooling Declaration (OSD), which aims to accelerate the open schooling movement with resources, technologies, practices, and policies. The OSD consists of 10 principles, 14 recommendations and 42 actions, and was created by the partners of the CONNECT project underpinned by three years of open schooling implementation with evaluation and can be read here.

The experts participating in the meeting were excited by the declaration and found it both relevant and powerful as a tool for the broader implementation of open schooling. As there are other projects that promote the Open Schooling approach, the experts pointed out, that the OPD can contribute positively to both strengthening the local movements and accelerating the broader political implementation by paving the way for a top-down diffusion. In particular, OSD can be a common declaration supported by several projects, institutions and partners.

In other words, the experts shared the hope that the OSD can contribute to much more open schooling in the EU and partner countries.

This is not done overnight. It requires sensitivity to the different school policies of EU countries and will also require strengthening of the open school movement by bringing together teachers, students, experts and politicians in the fight for a more engaging school. Hopefully, the declaration will be a step in the spread of the Open School Approach

The OSD will be addressed to governments and international organizations, education agencies and ministries, charities, universities, schools, STEM professionals and third-sector organizations including museums and outdoor education. The OPD will also be discussed with the Open Schooling Together community and other open schooling networks in Europe and beyond.

Action plans

Successful implementation of the OSD requires strategies tailored to local needs and circumstances. Accordingly, the participating countries have devised targeted action plans to promote and support Open Schooling in each of their national contexts. Each action plan targets several of the OSD’s recommendations.

Synthesized from the five different action plans are a set of key strategies that can accelerate Open Schooling efforts:

• Host and attend events such as conferences and theme weeks to establish networks with researchers, authorities/ministries, teachers, etc.

In the UK, the Green Forum Conference will facilitate a meeting point for scientists, teachers, policy makers and decision makers, and the Green Week programme in Romania provides a good opportunity to make use of Open Schooling activities and resources. Likewise, in Greece, a session will be organized at the Panhellenic Student Conference to bring together scientists, teachers, policy makers and decision makers.

• Use cultural institutions as opportunities to communicate about Open Schooling opportunities and initiatives

An Open Exhibition at the OU Library in the UK will invite the local community, teachers, students, and other actors to gain an insight into what Open Schooling can offer. In Romania, an exhibition on the ‘Night of Museums’ will be arranged to showcase current results from the CONNECT project.

• Collaborate with other stakeholders to develop and take advantage of digital tools to facilitate communication, collaboration and data collection for and about Open Schooling activities.

For instance, Spain has partnered up with the educational platform EduCaixa, which offers a variety of resources for schools. The partnership allows for scalability of Open Schooling initiatives through the dissemination of resources and communication.

• Identify needs and define shared problems through physical presence.

Events and sites where Open Schooling activities take place provide spaces where stakeholders can meet and identify needs on a local level, a strategy which is proposed by Romania.

• Put effort into inclusive and equitable implementation of Open Schooling initiatives by involving remote or marginalized groups (e.g. Romania and Greece).

In Romania, smaller schools in remote villages have been involved in the implementation, while Spain focuses on the further development of resources to complete the Integrated Intervention for Mental Health in schools. Greece ensures more equal opportunities for participation by involving SEND schools in the project. Finally, efforts are made to involve and engage more female students, which has already been successful.

• Collaborate and negotiate with existing institutional structures and practices to allow for the integration of Open Schooling activities

The UK aims to change the focus of the educational system to one that is more geared towards application and innovation to make it easier for schools to participate in the Open Schooling initiative. One proposed method is by reworking science actions into ‘lite’ forms. In Romania, teachers and school principals have collaborated to find solutions to implement Open Schooling initiatives that meet the country’s criteria for institutional change.

• Promote career awareness and motivation and creating meaning and enjoyment through engaging and immersive initiatives

Engagement can, for instance, be increased by making students science communicators – an idea Greece aims to pursue by increasing local initiatives for students to present their science projects and ideas.

• Recognize participation in Open Schooling activities in order to spark and sustain motivation

In Brazil, badges and certificates are rewarded to those carrying out and participating in inspiring Open Schooling activities. Furthermore, schools are recognized as ‘hubs’ for Open Schooling innovation.

Thank you to all involved for your insights, reflections, and local work to ensure an open and engaging school for everyone!