Course content. Module 1

When people speak about education, they sometimes associate it with schooling. When seeing or hearing the word, many think of places such a schools or universities. Education, however, is more than that – it is a social process of living, not a preparation for future living (Dewey, 1916). In this view, education is an act with people rather on them.

Education is a process that promotes learning or the development of knowledge, skills, values, morality, beliefs and habit. In broad terms, education may be:

• Formal – in school, for example.

• Non-formal – this course is a good example.

• Informal – in your everyday life.

Field experts consider that we are learning all the time, and that we may not be aware of this happening. Learning is considered in two ways:

• as a process it is part of living in the world, part of the way our bodies work. 

• as an outcome it is a new understanding or appreciation of something.

Citizenship refers to individuals working together, locally, nationally and internationally, to create meaningful changes in the community in which they live. This process is good for people and necessary for the strengthening and preservation of our democracy and our democratic way of life. It comes without saying that citizenship is not just about getting one country's passport. Moreover, over the last couple of decades, a new concept emerged along with the advancements of computer, internet smartphone technologies: digital citizenship. Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology by anyone who uses computers, the Internet, and digital devices to engage with society on any level.

Citizenship education includes the creation of awareness, skills and trust to allow individuals to make their own choices and take responsibility for their own lives and communities (including those online). Citizenship education is becoming more and more relevant in many countries, where democratic society and its institutions face threats.

As you can imagine, education, learning and (digital) citizenship are not just separate concepts, but are part of a bigger picture of our everyday life. In fact, there are numerous examples of thought leaders who combined these, including Aristotle, Socrates, Rousseau, Leonardo da Vinci, Einstein, Gandhi and Sugata Mitra. In the following, read the case study of Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Prize winner and activist for girls’ education.