Since 2022, aula gGmbH has been our funding partner in the program area Learning & Participation. With the help of an online platform and didactic support, aula enables schools to give young people real opportunities for active participation in everyday life. Students can use the platform to develop their own ideas, discuss them, and make decisions together.

At the start of the new school year, we asked Managing Director Alexa Schaegner three questions about aula’s work. In the interview, she explains the role schools play in helping students develop democratic and social skills.

How does aula differ from traditional forms of student participation, such as student councils or class councils?

Alexa Schaegner: With aula, everyone has the chance to participate – especially across different classes, not only through elected representatives. The goal is to firmly anchor participation in the school culture. Established bodies such as student councils or class councils are part of this process. With aula, every participant gets access to a digital participation platform (or app): students, teachers, social workers – and, if desired, parents as well. Idea generation, discussions, and decision-making take place on this platform, both at class level and across the whole school. The advantage is that all discussions and processes are documented transparently for everyone.
A class council, for example, can use aula to organize and document discussions and, if needed, share ideas in a space visible to the entire school community. The same applies to the student council on a school-wide level. As a representative decision-making body, student council members gain a clear overview of the issues currently important to students. They can accompany the participation process, answer questions, and provide support in developing ideas further.

Why is it important for schools to give young people real decision-making power?

Alexa Schaegner: Many people today feel they cannot change the circumstances in which they live, and that their voice carries no weight. This sense of powerlessness often starts at school. Schools are a key place for democratic socialization. If it becomes normal in school life for me to have a say and take responsibility, it will be easier for me to take on this role outside of school as well. The reverse is also true: if, at such an early age, I already feel like a victim of circumstances and am told to simply accept things as they are – why would I be motivated to get involved in society later on?

How has aula adapted its offerings to meet the needs of schools in recent years?

Alexa Schaegner: That’s an exciting question. We are constantly adapting to the very different needs of schools and to changing external circumstances – while making sure the core of our work remains intact. This means we are making the concept increasingly modular: Two examples: we are currently piloting a new format called the »Participation Check«. This tool helps schools assess the current state of participation and identify their actual needs. Sometimes, expectations and reality differ significantly.
In addition, we are now developing aula for primary schools – a long-standing request from schools. This new concept will be largely adaptable for use in analogue formats as well.

 

Further information about our funding partnership with aula gGmbH can be found here.