Insights into the practice of political youth education from the New Media department
in Extracurricular Education, Issue 4-2015
In the current issue of the journal „Extracurricular education“ The topic is "Network Policies: Between Digital Freedom and Control." The wannseeFORUM is also working on this theme within its New Media department. Annette Ullrich, together with Frank Hofmann, youth education officer at the Kurt Löwenstein Educational Center and colleague, writes about experiences from her own seminar work and from participating in the AdB project group "Globalization and Media Communication." AdB model program „Political Youth Education“ in the current issue in the article „In the Stream of Media. Swimming Movements from the Practice of Political Youth Education“
Below is an excerpt of the text.,
Link to Full text as a reading sample of AB 4-2015
as well as to further Information about the journal "Extracurricular Education" and the current issue
Excerpt:
In the flow of media
Swimming movements from the practice of political youth education
The future is already here. This realization is not new. Google lists approximately 1.5 million hits for this phrase, reflecting the perception of many that they can hardly keep up with the pace of development. Globalization and media communication generate a flood of questions about dealing with rapid societal changes.|1 In particular, the practice of political education must find its own points of reference within this context and offer them in educational processes. Since 2011, the AdB (Association of German Youth in Education) has focused the development and testing of new approaches to this in its "Political Youth Education" program. „Globalization and Media Communication“.|2 Here is an insight into the work on the focus topic „Freedom and Security“. by Annette Ullrich and Frank Hofmann
The law is new. Even in paragraph one, the "Basic Law 7.0" makes the changed digital culture clear. "The data transparency of a person is inviolable." "Transparency is the primary civic duty!" it states a few lines later. Is this what the future of our digital interaction looks like?
Has a balance between freedom and security finally been found in a democratic society? The law is not legally binding. The text is a game element in the mini-LARP "Data Worlds – 2084" and is intended to spark discussion. It was developed by the "Globalization and Media Communication" project group within the AdB program "Political Youth Education." Adapting and applying live-action role-playing is a methodological approach that playfully encourages participants to examine their digital actions in the here and now by simulating an imagined future. The potential seriousness of the situation is explored through the fun of the game. Starting with the individual actions of invented player roles, the focus is on the social framework of a media society that young people are shaping today and in the future. The pros and cons of handling data are a central theme. What impact and value debates arise for freedom and security on a personal and societal level against the backdrop of the increasing demands for data by the state and globally operating businesses?
„I have nothing to hide…“
Digital media and services like YouTube and WhatsApp are closely linked to this question – and are part of our everyday lives. However, terms and conditions and legal frameworks are only partially understood, especially by younger users. The extent to which companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon determine the rules of digital freedom and security is rarely discussed in daily life. "Googling" has long since found its way into the dictionary. The fact that the European Parliament proposed breaking up Google as a market monopolist in 2014, and the reasons behind it, interest few. Even the efforts of state politicians and private plaintiffs to at least compel Facebook to comply with European laws seem to evoke little emotion among users. Government data retention barely rouses a few from their smartphones anymore. The NSA scandal and Snowden revelations appear less frequently in the news. The next news item from the media world is already ticking the ticker. Are the developments too rapid and difficult to comprehend? Are the connections too complex? Are the discussion topics too abstract and detached from everyday life? Dealing with global influences on our local actions is a central societal issue that receives little public response. Political education must find ways to make it a topic of broad public discussion. But how?
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1 The ECJ's decision of 6 October 2015 on the "Save Harbour Agreement" is a current example of complex social negotiation processes.
2 Participating educational institutions: ABC Education and Conference Center e. V., aktuelles forum NRW e. V., basa e. V., Kurt Löwenstein Youth Education Center, Hütten Youth Education Center, wannseeFORUM Foundation; Project group websites: www.bcpb.de, www.projektwiese.de