Methods

Participative methods:
Which methods may be used for implementation of co-decision and co-determination of pupils or school community in environmental management of school? How may pupils or school community get involved in elaboration and implementation of action plan? Which methods can be used by pupils to perform environmental review independently? How may project ideas and visions be collected in an action team jointly? Following collection of methods shall give suggestions to this and other questions. There are simple methods in this collection of methods that may be integrated in working process easily and require no special assumptions.

When describing the methods it shall be suggested at the beginning by the way of an example at which out of the seven steps and with what objective respective method shall be used. 

• Identify problem areas / Express your opinion:
  • Stumbling blocks - This illustrative method suits for denotation and collection of problems and critique.
  • My opinion - Pupils note down their wishes, critique points and problems related to a specific matter at the school on an “opinion sheet”.
  • Flashlight - Flashlight is a method for fast acquirement each participants´ opinion (feedback) related to a topic or for execution of a brief inter-evaluation.
  • World Café - The method suits well for exchange of knowledge and ideas among participants in a relaxed atmosphere as well as for developing new ideas, getting new knowledge and finding options of action.

• Collect information / Make analysis:
  
  • Interview forays (surveys / polling) - Pupils interview relevant persons by the means of an interview guideline in order to get information related to a specific topic.
  • Inspection and observation or survey - Inspection and observation or survey is a possible way of analyzing by the means of check lists or inquiry sheets.

• Find and collect ideas:
  • Brainwriting - Brainwriting is a method for collection of ideas, suggestions, expectations, wishes, etc. related to a specific issue.
  • Brainstorming - Brainstorming follows the same objective like brainwriting. However, unlike brainwriting, participants express their suggestions, ideas, fancies, etc. related to a specific issue verbally.
  • Work in small groups - In a small group of three to six pupils solutions related to a task are elaborated independently. Result shall be introduced within collective group or collective result.
  • Group interview - Group interview is a method by which a question can be answered not only individually but also together with the others.
  • Wishful thinking / Way to the future - Pupils draw or write down their ideas, visions, wishes and dreams and thus, they develop their wishful thinking or a way to the future.

• Set rules / Take decision:
  • Reminder - Rules related to joint work in a group shall be set by the means of a “reminder”.
  • Point-decision - Point-decision method is a voting process for all situations where a decision is to be taken quickly and participatively.
  • When-then-Poster - This method suits well when - prior taking decision about selection of a topic / project - we want to find out what single participants can do and want to do for the project.

• Formulate and set objectives / Plan action steps
  • Mind-mapping- Mind-mapping is a creative method for structured collection of ideas. Objectives and measures related to the plan can be formulated by the means of a prepared mind-map.
  • SMART method - The SMART method is used when determining objectives of projects. By the means of the method objectives are formulated in such a way that they are specific, measurable, attractive, realistic and terminable (able to set deadlines).
  • Our way - This method suits for drafting an action strategy for implementation of a project in a short time.
  • Design meeting - This method suits for collection of individual ideas related to an already-adopted project with pupils and development of first implementation steps.

• Relaxation games / Creativity-developing exercises:
  • Brain-Gym-exercise -This exercise is aiming at mental and physical activation by the means of physical exercises as well as activation of the left and right hemisphere.
  • Solving a knot - Objective of this exercise is to make participants feel relaxed and to solve a problem together.
  • Fantasy trip - A story is read out to participants that takes them for a trip to the future mentally. It is aiming at support of imaginative power and breaking free from reality.
  • Round-story - Participants are telling an imaginative story from future reality together and rotationally. It is aiming at support of imaginative power and breaking free from reality

Participation-supporting structures and learning arrangements:
Structures and learning arrangements for support of pupils´ participation stated below are more extensive from the viewpoint of time and affect the structure of schooling and school life more strongly. Thus, for example a Future workshop or We-workshop can be made on project day or during project week. Of course, it is possible to single out and use single elements only. Basic aspect of service learning refers to the fact that this learning arrangement is connected with lessons and – similarly like when establishing a sustainable student company or pupil parliament – certain structures in schooling and school life are the main assumption.

When describing the methods it shall be suggested at the beginning by the way of an example at which out of the seven steps and with what objective respective method shall be used.

• Future workshop - In a future workshop creative ideas are developed and problems solved under participation and active involvement of all participants.
• We-workshop - The We-workshop method allows to implement project jointly and successfully on the basis of individual competences and needs of every single pupil.
• Pupil parliament - Pupil parliament is an institutionalised representative-democratic form of co-management and co-determination in the process of planning and shaping of school life and schooling.
• Service Learning- Service Learning refers to a learning arrangement where pupils learn and acquire competences on the basis of active participation in overcoming of really existing tasks and in problem solving in their community.
• Sustainable student companies - Sustainable student companies are enterprises led by students themselves that produce and sell products and offer services. Stress is put on pedagogical benefit, not on profit maximisation here.