In this blog post, we will explore the localisation of EDUbox Politics, outlining the process involved, sharing feedback from teachers and students, and offering recommendations for those looking to adapt educational resources to their own contexts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Background <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Before delving into the localisation processes, it’s essential to outline the key terms and project background. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Consortium partners<\/strong>: De Vlaamse Radio- en Televisieomroeporganisatie nv (VRT)<\/a> (Belgium), Interuniversitair Micro-Electronica Centrum (IMEC\/Mediawijs)<\/a> (Belgium), Stichting NTR (NTR)<\/a> (The Netherlands), Sveuciliste U Zagrebu Fakultet Politickih Znanosti (FPZG)<\/a> (Croatia), Media & Learning Association (MLA)<\/a> (International) <\/p>\n\n\n\n EDUbox<\/strong>: Developed by VRT, EDUbox introduces secondary school students (12-18 year olds) to pressing social topics, such as fake news, sexting, and cybersecurity. These EDUboxes are not just educational tools; they\u2019re gateways to deep learning experiences, meticulously crafted to blend technology, didactics, and storytelling into an interactive journey. <\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n EDUbox Politics<\/strong> is an educational resource designed for secondary school students. It helps them understand how decisions are made, how ideas become policies, and how persuasion works. By exploring their own concerns and ideas for the future, students learn how these can be realised through politics. <\/p>\n\n\n\n VRT led the creation of EDUbox Politics through a collaborative process, beginning with a consortium meeting in Zagreb from May 15-17, 2023. The team developed both Flemish and international versions simultaneously: the Flemish version focuses on the Belgian\/Flemish system, while the international version, produced in English, covers the European system. Both versions take approximately 80-90 minutes to complete. Launched in Flanders on October 11, 2023, these versions served as models for NTR and FPZG in their regional adaptations. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium (Flemish version)<\/strong>: The Flemish version highlights the Belgian\/Flemish political system and included local examples. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duration: 80-90 min <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Netherlands:<\/strong> Schooltv has developed a new interactive learning resource inspired by the EDUbox format to teach Dutch students about politics, voting, and persuasion. The resource replaces the original PDF and video structure with an engaging chat-based approach to better suit the needs of Dutch learners and improve accessibility. This version includes features like screen reader compatibility and dyslexic-friendly fonts. With Dutch political reporter Marleen de Rooy as their guide, students explore the material through interactive content, including videos featuring diverse perspectives from voters and politicians. Based on the EDUbox Politics, the resource includes adapted exercises, a tailored game, and additional videos with Marleen to enhance understanding for all students in the Netherlands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duration: 55 min <\/p>\n\n\n\n Croatia<\/strong>: The FPZG team aimed to familiarise young Croatians with politics, the electoral process, and the significance of voting by implementing several key changes. These included translating all materials into Croatian, with two-level proofreading, and adjusting the narrative to be more relatable to the audience. Croatian political examples, newspaper headlines, and politician posters were incorporated for contextualisation, and generic visuals were replaced with images familiar to Croatian students. All relevant videos were translated. Additionally, the memory game was excluded due to time constraints and its complexity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Duration: 90 min <\/p>\n\n\n\n Belgium<\/strong>: Students appreciated the interactive assignments and videos, finding them more engaging than traditional lessons. However, they suggested more videos to explain theory and simpler language. Teachers found the EDUboxes easy to use but noted the need for more technical improvements, adjustments for different learning levels, and additional lesson materials. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Netherlands<\/strong>: Students responded positively to interactive and gamified elements, which increased engagement. However, they experienced decreased engagement with text-heavy content. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Croatia<\/strong>: evaluations revealed several areas for improvement, including challenges with workshop duration (original was 90 minutes), the need for more guidelines for teachers and librarians, and a reduction in theoretical content on European institutions. Additionally, more time was needed for group work and assignments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Feedback from a librarian: <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe EDUbox workshop was very instructive for our students and opened up a number of questions that they mostly do not think about or at least do not bother with in relation to politics. The most important problem that has opened up for them, is the issue of social responsibility of all of us. The workshop approached our students in a very simple and accessible way. As a teacher, I am happy that our students and teachers had the opportunity to participate in the workshop, regardless of age and experience, we all had something to learn. Some interesting questions and perspectives have opened up that significantly influence our decisions. EDUbox content should really be available more often to students and citizens.\u201d \u2013 librarian from Croatia<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media-and-learning.eu\/files\/2023\/10\/IMG_4262-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nLocalisation Process <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Initial Development <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adaptations <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media-and-learning.eu\/files\/2024\/08\/EDUmake-localisation_1-1024x726.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nImpact and Feedback <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Our 10 Localisation Recommendations\u00a0\u2935\ufe0f<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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