Teens Without Screens, Nordplus Horizontal

Hankkeen tavoitteet

Taking in notice World Health Organisation data (2019) on public health of teenagers and behavioural addiction to electronic devices, and PEW Research Centre data (2019) that 97% of teen boys and 83% of girls play games on some kind of device, the main purpose of the project is to develop innovative guidance (Toolkit) for teachers and educators working with teenagers in order to reveal to young people alternative ways of creative initiatives and communication at school’s daily activities. We consider use of IT in teaching and learning process as positive. Our concern is about overspending time in internet as it may leave negative impression on immature psyche of teenager.

We propose integration of several forms of arts – visual art, drama, ballet – as a way of captivating and fascinating young people for involvement in social (non-virtual) interaction. Teachers can guide young people in alternative ways for socializing according to the needs of healthy psychological, mental and spiritual growth of personality. The guidance will be developed by interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral team: university teachers, professional artists, secondary school teachers, art therapists, youth educators, specialists of psychology, anthropology and theology working on the common idea.

Project aims to develop: 1) Arts-Integration Toolkit for Teachers “Teens Without Screens”, 2) piloting the Toolkit as a guidance for teachers in Secondary School integrating arts into everyday school life; 3) To present in practical Conference the results of application of Toolkit for educators and policy makers to rise public interest on the growing problem of internet addiction among youth. By activities and dissemination of results the project is reaching Nordplus general and Nordplus Horizontal aims in a sustainable network on the Nordic-Baltic cooperation in education.

Cross-sectoral cooperation will strengthen the project as a common platform for future cooperation and development of cross-sectoral innovations in education in the Nordic-Baltic countries.

Hankkeen toteutus

Hanketta koordinoi Latvian Christian Academy- (University). Suomen Diakoniaopisto on hankepartneri. SDO:n vastuulla on draaman osuus hankkeessa, joten Lahden kampuksen Theatrum Olga vastaa tästä osiosta. Muita hankepartnereita ovat Liettuassa Kaunas College (University), Latviassa Majoru vidusskola (Primary/secondary school) ja Latvian Ballet and Dance Guild (Foundation).
Alkuperäinen hankeaikataulu (alla) on muuttunut korona pandemian takia online tapaamisiksi vuonna 2020. Lokakuussa 2021 toteutui hankepartnereiden vierailu SDO:ssa Alppikadulla ja Lahdessa Theatrum Olgassa, jolloin suunniteltiin yhdessä Toolkit tuotetta. Lisäksi lähitapaamisista toteutui opettajien koulutustilaisuus Kaunaksessa tammikuussa 2022 ja päätösseminaari Jurmalassa kesäkuussa 2022.

Network Meeting 1 in Finland – October/November 2020, 1st week. Responsible: Theatre Olga. Duration: 2 days. Participants: LV (6), LT (3), FI (2).
Arts-Integration Toolkit for Teachers – developing Toolkit and responsible for content: All partners. Duration: 1 April 2021.
Training Course for Teachers and Youth Educators in Lithuania – May-October 2021. Responsible: Kaunas University of Applied Sciences. Duration: 2 days. Participants: LV (14), LT (34), FI (3).
Pilot Project “Teens Without Screens” in Majori Secondary School – November 2021. Responsible organisations: Majori Secondary School, Kaunas University of Applied Sciences, Theatre Olga, Ballet Guild. Duration: 3 days. Participants: LV (14), LT (5), FI (2).
Conference in Latvia – “Teens Without Screens – Alternative for Screens in Finding Joy in Arts” –March/ April 2022. Responsible organisations: LCA. Duration: 2 days. Participants: LV (14), LT (5), FI (3).
Network Meeting 2 in Latvia – following the Conference – March/ April 2022. Responsible organisation: LCA. Participants: LV (14), LT (5), FI (3). Duration: 1 day.

Lisätietoja hankkeesta

LCA as a coordinator will contribute to the project 1) through its Institute of Interdisciplinary Research by innovative guidance using anthropological approach to teenager’s personality, revealing the spiritual, psychological and physical needs of personality. 2) LCA will test in pilot project “Teens Without Screens” in the secondary school the described strategic approach in different fields of creativity and arts.

HEIs – LCA and Kaunas University of Applied Sciences – will present arts integration with other disciplines as a tool for boosting critical thinking and impact on students’ general achievements and personal development. According to World Value Survey (WVS, 2019), the young people who participate regularly in arts (at least 3 days each week) are to be recognized for higher academic achievements and winning awards for writing essays and doing analytic tasks.

Olga Theatre (Theatrum Olga): Deaconal Institute of Finland, Lahti campus- will show the teachers how preventive therapy of drama become a policy and could be rolled out in schools every year. They can speak professionally how a whole generation that have been modelled emotional intelligence and who understand how to express themselves and keep themselves healthy and balanced in the society where IT is used progressively. Theatre will participate in Two-days Practical Seminar for Teachers and in three-day Pilot project “Teens Without Screens” training in Majori Secondary School; will participate in practical Conference showing their experience how they repeatedly watched young people who were experiencing inner chaos but later gained different, balanced narrative about themselves.

Kaunas University of Applied Sciences will reveal arts integration through such forms of arts as design, fashion design, photography as forms of observation of the context of the modern world.

Majori Secondary School will serve as a platform integrating the knowledge from the sectors of higher education and professional associations in school curricula that is based on competence-building.

Latvian Professional Ballet and Dance Guild sees dance as an integral part of spiritual culture of people. Dance is a carrier of cultural symbols through which a person can express unity with other people. The project partners aim to make dance as integral part of the curricula for the teenager’s physical and aesthetical education. It allows students to understand and learn the concepts of rhythm, pace, dynamics, space, and develop the creativity along with educational and aesthetic functions. Young people would acquire the Course of dance activity; the Role of girls in the dance; the Role of boys in the dance. It creates integration between theory of aesthetics, music, dance, communication, education of taste, physical education, develops personal expression, positive emotions, individual and team work with students. That is important for boosting interest for movement, improvement of motor skills, and the development of need for joy of physical activities.

Hankkeen tulokset

Mobiiliteknologia vie yhä enemmän tilaa kasvokkaiselta vuorovaikutukselta. Suomen Diakoniaopisto oli vuosina 2020-2022 osatoteuttajana Nordplus Horizontal hankkeessa ”Teens Without Screens: Developing Tools For Social Interaction Through The Arts”. Hankkeessa etsittiin luovia keinoja vuorovaikutuksen kehittämiseen. Hankekumppaneiden päätavoitteena on ollut kehittää eri taiteen keinoin innovatiivisia työkaluja (metodologisia työkaluja), joiden avulla opettajat voivat työskennellä nuorten kanssa ja saada heidät mukaan vaihtoehtoisiin luoviin tapoihin, mitä tehdä ja miten kommunikoida koulussa taukojen aikana ilman mobiililaitteita.
Suomen Diakoniaopiston vastuulla oli draaman osuus hankkeessa. Lahden kampuksen Theatrum Olga oli Lasse Kantolan johdolla aktiivinen sisällöntuottaja. Lassen ideoimia projekteja toteutettiin erityisesti Jurmalan Majori Schoolissa aktiivisesti. Opiskelijat kaikilla luokkatasoilla innostuivat esimerkiksi lyhtyprojektista syksyllä 2021. Koulun oppilaat ovat iältään 6-15 vuotiaita. Taide ihmiselle luontaisena ja monimuotoisena ilmaisukeinona on yhteistä kaikille kouluasteille ja maille eri kielitaustoista tai kulttuureista huolimatta. Hankeen toimintaideat on koottu artikkeleina työkalupakiksi Toolkit- kirjaan, jota opettajat ja sosiaalityöntekijät voivat hyödyntää työssään.
Päätösseminaarista löytyy kirjoitus SDO:n Matkaterveisiä blogista:

Suomen Diakoniaopisto
Heli Ramula
heli.ramula@sdo.fi
+358 50 395 5986

Suomen Diakoniaopisto
Lasse Kantola
lasse.kantola@sdo.fi
+358 40 557 1749