Learning through play to solve social conflicts democratically

Climate change, social division, flight and the threat to democracy from the right are some of the constant crises we are confronted with. Democratic forms of dealing with conflicts should be taught and practised in order to counter hate speech and manslaughter arguments. This ability to act in complex transformation processes is known as the ‘art of the future’.

To this end, we have developed a modular workshop that uses playful methods to teach skills such as perspective-taking, conflict management and cooperation, as well as self-efficacy. Discussion formats, for example, but also escape games and card games are used to impart knowledge. The project is aimed at a target group that is particularly affected by the future issues described above: young people aged 14 and over.

The workshop concept is like a toolbox from which educators can choose the tools they need depending on time and availability.

For a successful project day, we plan

1. a playful introduction that prepares participants for the topic
2. an intensive brainstorming session on the concept of future art
3. a thematic module that deals with democracy in times of transformation
4. a game that activates the whole class