Pupils teach students at Lund University
At Lund University in Sweden, students studying to become teachers were visited by upper secondary school pupils in the subject “School Development”. The pupils explained summarised knowledge from many pupils, and then met with the students in smaller groups.
Nordic project at universities
This form of teaching is part of a Nordic collaboration project, with universities in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Here, ways are being tested where students get to hear knowledge from children and young people – directly from children and young people. The goal is to find ways that work in different places in Nordic countries.
How to collaborate with students
The theme of the day with the students in Lund was collaboration between teachers and pupils, both with individual pupils and with groups of pupils. The young people started by explaining why adults in schools have to collaborate with pupils, and what must be the basis for it to feel safe for pupils to express their opinions. They also explained what adults in schools can do before a decision is made, when pupils have expressed their opinion and after a decision has been made, so that pupils feel that they have truly been involved and taken seriously in the decision. The young people also gave advice on what adults can do if what one or more pupils want is not possible to achieve.
Helpful for the students
The feedback that was most noticeable from the students was that it is very helpful to hear from, and talk to, pupils about how to create safety and good collaboration in practice. Many said that it gave motivation to be a teacher who asks pupils about their opinions and takes their opinions seriously.
Thank you so much to the students and teachers at Lund University for having us!