The new EFIL online learning course “Developing Intercultural Competence through E-learning (DICE)” aims at supporting the application of intercultural competences in everyday life. Its contents and activities touch upon aspects of intercultural competences which can be helpful in facing current society challenges and which might not be yet addressed by existing AFS tools and curricula. The pedagogical approach builds on the principles of non-formal education: experiential learning and interactions between participants, with small input based on existing free resources online (rather than producing high-tech tools inside the course). The contents are built around thematic “stations”, of which five are already developed: Power in intercultural encounters, Identities, Intercultural Media Literacy, Inclusion and Discrimination, Othering.
The first group of DICE users – participants of the October Training for Trainers – piloted the prototype version of the course in the autumn 2018. Their experience and feedback was extremely valuable and will serve as a basis for improving the course contents, methodology and interface.
The DICE prototype has been developed by a team of volunteers, supported by EFIL office, consisting of: Marina Saglietti (AFS Italy), Bojana Ilic (AFS Serbia/AFS Denmark), Nicolas Martig (EFIL/AFS Switzerland) and Stephan Winiker (AFS Switzerland). The project team met four times during 2018: in Brussels (January), Frankfurt (April), Utoya (July) and Brussels again (November) – however most of the work has happened virtually throughout the year. The first year of the development has been supported by the European Youth Foundation of the Council of Europe within the 2018 Work Plan “ICL in the 21st century – uniting polarised societies”.
The good news is that the development process will continue in 2019, again with the support of the European Youth Foundation. The partly refreshed project team is currently being built, to work again throughout 2019. Their task will be to fine-tune the course, train new facilitators and try it out with new target groups. We are also exploring possibilities of upscaling the DICE idea and setting up a sustainable course use in further future.
Stay tuned for further updates along the way!
For more information contact izabela.jurczik-arnold@afs.org
