L²INK

As experiential experts in education, pupils have unique knowledge about their own situation as a pupil. Research also shows that students can use this knowledge and experience, provided they receive the right support, to improve the educational quality at school and in the classroom. Students who are allowed to participate also show greater well-being at school. Finally, positive experiences with participation and participation in education can ensure that (vulnerable) pupils remain on board and also have more faith in society and in the future. Many schools and teachers are looking for ways to work in a participatory manner in the classroom. However,  teachers often received their own teacher training in a teacher-driven system and there is currently no approach that supports teachers to have a say at class level. Within the Flemish educational policy, participation is (too) often narrowed down to formal forms of participation such as a student council.

In this project, we develop a toolbox that support teachers to work participatively in the classroom. We collaborate with three secondary schools that use the toolbox and investigate how this impacts on the daily reality in the classroom.