Look up! Critical thinking in and about youth work

"The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing."—Albert Einstein

In this complex and fast changing world, the new generation of youth workers must adapt as quickly as their environment is changing.

In the reality of climate change, difficult economic situations, fake news, radicalisation, and wars, it is essential to equip both youth workers and young people with the tools of critical thinking. Critical thinking enables us to reflect about, understand and question our own assumptions and beliefs as well as influence on and from organisations and society. In order to understand oneself and the world better, orient oneself in increasing complexity and create more peaceful relations, critical thinking is an essential tool of every youth worker and people connected to youth work.

Increased critical thinking in and about youth work allows youth workers to explore the concept of critical thinking from a personal point of view as well as an organisational point of view. The training is meant to facilitate the growth of critical thinking for youth workers and give them tools to multiply that knowledge with the youth they work with. At the same time it is important to think critically about the organisations or informal groups that youth workers work with and contemplate how the work can be ameliorated.

Aims and objectives

The aim of the training course is to support youth workers and youth leaders to facilitate critical thinking processes with young people by providing tools and methods for them and exploring the concept on personal, organisational and societal levels.

The objectives of the training are to:

develop a common understanding of critical thinking as a concept and as a tool  in relation to youth work

improve participants’ critical thinking skills

learn how to facilitate critical thinking learning situations among young people through youth work

explore and share methods, tools, resources and best practices related to critical thinking

Learning outcomes

At the end of the training participants will:

leave with concrete tools and competences which can be used to facilitate young people's critical thinking processes

be better equipped to critically analyse their environment at a personal,   interpersonal, and societal level

enrich their own critical thinking toolbox

have confidence to implement critical thinking in a team working context

Participants’ profile

Participants at the training should be:

• youth workers, youth leaders and volunteers working with young people
• interested in the topic
• willing to share their own experiences and actively participate in the learning process
• committed to share their learnings and skills with young people after the training
• comfortable with English as a working language
• able and curious to keep learning after the training

Methodology

The methodologies will all be based on non-formal education, with the aim of creating an inclusive space for the participants to explore, learn and grow. They will be fitted to the participants attending the training course and will include the following domains:

• facilitated experiences within the group (e.g. role plays, games or outdoor activities)
• self-reflection (individually, in pairs or in the group)
• exploration of theories and concepts to contextualise experiential knowledge
• experimentation with the gained insights