EU Project Experience

Some experience

Rachel Kuhn is a staff member in Wicklow Democratic School and is responsible for the Erasmus + Partnership: "Rethinking learning: a holistic approach to education through wellbeing". With Funding through the Erasmus + Partnership, Wicklow Democratic School is currently partnered with two other alternative education organisations, Acompañando elSer in Spain and Gaia Hariduse Selts in Estonia. The participating organisations have a common objective: to drift away from the traditional paradigm of teaching-learning, as well as from the lack of family engagement in modern society. The main goals of this partnership are to develop training and educational resources:

1) to support professional development for holistic education teachers, providing them with tools, strategies, and resources that help foster children’s active learning

2) to provide families with skills to both understand and support self-centered learning and assume a responsible role in the growth of their children.

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‍EU Funding Goals

Through European partnerships and funding, Wicklow Democratic School aims to enhance collaboration in self-directed education, contribute to innovative learning projects, and expand recognition of alternative education pathways. By engaging in knowledge exchange, resource development, and accreditation efforts, we seek to strengthen our impact locally and across Europe.

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1. Strengthening European Partnerships in Democratic and Self-Directed Learning

• Collaborate with other democratic and alternative education schools across Europe to share best practices and develop joint initiatives.
• Exchange knowledge in innovative learning methodologies with European partners.
• Participate in transnational projects that explore new approaches to student-led education.

‍2. Active Participation in European Projects

• Engage in Erasmus+ and similar programs to co-develop educational frameworks that support self-directed learning.
• Contribute to research on innovative education models and their impact on student success.
• Take part in mobility programs for students and educators to gain insights from other European learning environments.

3. Developing Innovative Educational Resources

• Create open-access learning resources to support self-directed education in Ireland and across Europe.
• Develop online and blended learning programs to make democratic education accessible beyond the physical school environment.
• Pilot and test innovative assessment methods that align with self-directed learning principles.

4. Enhancing Teacher and Facilitator Training

• Design and deliver training programs for educators on self-directed learning methodologies.
• Collaborate with European experts to refine teacher training approaches for alternative education models.
• Organize workshops, conferences, and webinars to foster professional development in progressive education.

5. Increasing Recognition and Accreditation of Alternative Learning Pathways

• Work towards recognition of self-directed learning within European qualification frameworks.
• Advocate for policy changes that support alternative education models at a European level.
• Partner with European institutions to explore accreditation pathways for non-traditional education settings.

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Strengths

Learning to Learn

Through the Erasmus+ Program and a funded PhD by the Irish Research Council, two of the WDS Staff members have created the learning to learn pedagogy. This is the foundation for learning within WDS and furthermore. Three other self-directed learning schools have been founded in Ireland following our model, one in Sligo, Cork and Meath. More are in the planning stages. We have supported one Master’s project and are currently supporting two separate PhD research projects concentrated on our schoolmodel. Learning to Learn has applications in other educational and learning environments (see below: Homeschool & Alternatives to mainstream education) as well as industry and business.

Inclusivity & Neurodiversity

Wicklow Democratic School fosters a community spirit among the students, staff, parents and donors which promotes inclusivity, openness, curiosity and acceptance of all identities, genders and expressions. The school aims to foster a school environment that supports students across the spectrum of learning styles,cultivate a sense of social consciousness and general well-being in students through community-oriented democratic practices, and prepare students to flourish in their lives post-graduation. We believe that supporting students to address their individual mental health and social anxiety situations in tandem focusing on academic pursuits allows them to learn how to self regulate their emotions, accept their various states and develop healthy strategies to manage the same. Our aim is that graduates of our school are prepared to pursue what they are passionate about, make positive contributions to their community, and lead fulfilled lives amid the challenges of a world that may not always be democratic.