Voices into Action (VIA) Toolkit

A digital resource supporting learner and family participation in educational decision-making

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Iceland

Meaningful learner participation through Social Innovation Action Labs

About:

At Fellaskóli, a comprehensive primary school in Reykjavík, 85% of learners come from a foreign background. The school is working to strengthen learners’ Icelandic language skills, as well as their self-esteem and independence. With this in mind, the school has employed the practice of Social Innovation Action Labs. Action Labs are a way to create opportunities for learners to participate meaningfully in schools. They provide an interactive channel for learners to share ideas with practitioners and policy-makers who might otherwise rush to pre-determined, top-down solutions.

An Action Lab workshop was held in Fellaskóli, aiming to find out whether learners, teachers and parents perceive the Social Innovation Action Labs as a way to effectively include them in decision-making. The workshop included learners in 7th class, as well as teachers and a representative of Innovation Lab from the city of Reykjavík. The learners were tasked with a hands-on activity, using Lego blocks to make Fellaskóli a better school.

A collage of five images showing the participating learners engaged in an activity to use Lego blocks to re-create places within the school that they like.

Image 1. As part of the Action Lab, the participating learners used Lego blocks to re-create places within the school that they like

Outcomes:

After the workshop, a researcher conducted interviews with two teachers to understand the Action Labs’ potential impact. The researcher also organised a walk followed by a focus group with six participating learners. During these activities, learners shared their thoughts on the workshop and their daily life at school. Overall, the reactions from both groups were positive, but learners expressed concerns about whether any change would actually be implemented as a result of the Action Labs.

A series of six close-up images of some of the ideas the learners expressed during the Action Lab using drawings and text on posters.

Image 2. A series of six close-up images of some of the ideas the learners expressed during the Action Lab using drawings and text on posters

Key element(s) of the VIA Framework:

The school’s approach to gaining feedback about the Social Innovation Action Labs from learners and teachers was an effective example of SPACE, VOICE and AUDIENCE. The participants were given a safe, interactive opportunity to express their opinions about the Action Labs and the school environment. Furthermore, the researcher took the time to listen to and document their input after the workshop. However, learners were not convinced that their voices would have any impact.

Three images of areas within the school that learners identified as spaces they enjoy spending time in.

Image 3. Areas within the school that learners identified as spaces they enjoy spending time in

Learn more:

Practical tool: Action Lab Agreement

Watch: Social Innovation Action Lab video

Read: Report – (Re)Imagining Together - Letting Our Dreams Come True. A Social Innovation Action Lab