Showing posts with label election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label election. Show all posts

Friday, 8 May 2015

Can technology help encourage more young people to get involved in politics?

In our previous blog post, we shared with you that we created a dedicated task for 11-14 year olds to discuss the UK 2015 general election.

Over the past few weeks, it has been brilliant to hear of teachers using the app/task across the country.

On the morning of the election day itself, the team went to the largest school in Newcastle, Kenton, to work with year 8 students and see whether the task had made any difference. It was incredible to see the transformation from before to after - one student said they had 'no interest in politics', but afterwards was asking lots of great questions about the different parties. They wanted to find out more.

In a couple of minutes, this video explores the session and has an interview with some of the students who took part:


Some quotes from the students:
  • "If I did have the opportunity to vote, I think I would have a better idea of who I would vote for."
  • "I also think I've got a better idea, because when it's on the news, it's often just clustered together, what people said. It doesn't give you the full insight of what the different parties want to do."
  • "You want to know which (parties) are good for you, so with your friends, you know you can have a conversation with them to know which one is better."
  • "I think it (the Digital Mystery) gives you a better understanding of stuff and you can know what's good and what's bad and I think it would be good to introduce it at other elections."

One of our brilliant pieces of feedback from Twitter:
Thanks to everyone for supporting this task/iPad app, including everyone following our social media updates, those at BBC Radio, the Northern Echo, Bdaily, Schools North East and North Tyneside Learning Trust.

If you've got something to share about 'Digital Mysteries: UK Election 2015', let us know!

Friday, 24 April 2015

UK election resource for 11-14s

Where should Grace put her X on May 7th?
Free PSHE/Citizenship resource for KS3

It is election time. Wherever you look there are politicians aiming to win you over. Debates, Q and As, sensationalist headlines, tweets and Facebook posts are all around us. But while young people in our schools may be aware of something important going on, how engaged are they?

Academics at Newcastle University wanted to involve 11-14 year olds in the election – it is an ideal way to introduce them to politics and parliament. It is also something they can then easily discuss with their parents when they get home too. They approached us to create a free iPad app, which is now ready to download – just click here or search ‘election mystery’ on the App Store. Email info@reflectivethinking.com for a PDF version or click here for a Windows PC/laptop free trial.

You may think ‘oh, another attempt to interest young people’, but this time, it’s different. The app tells the story of the election through an 18 year old called Grace Feng. Bright, illustrated slips of information fill the screen which explain her background and interests plus some of her aims in life and the opinions of her family and friends. Students must use these to develop an understanding of her as a person then with this, decide who she should vote for.

Image of two students using the app
A teacher at Greenfield Community College is using the app - he said “It is more essential than ever to get young people engaged in the political process and the future of our country. As a school we are running a topical scheme of work through our 'time for success' on politics and the election. When we were told about the app, it seemed the ideal task to support this. Students can engage in their own time - as a homework task - or work through the mystery in lessons.”


Three options to use this free resource: