Hats Off to Education: Non-Formal Education Method HD

Title of the Activity: Hats Off to Education Objectives of the Activity: Explain different forms of education; Type of Activity: Knowledge; Skill; Creative; Teams; Themes: Learning; Hats; Number of Participants: 2 Facilitators; 8+ Participants; Required Resources: 3 Rooms; Coloured paper/card; Newspapers; Writing paper; Sticky notes; Pens; Marker pens; Sticking tape; Stapler; String; Length of Time: 45 – 60 minutes Step-by-Step: Hats Off to Education 1. Preparation Prepare three separate working spaces – one for each of the three forms of education – with the following materials: Room A (Formal Education) – Newspapers. Room B (Non-Formal Education) – Newspapers; Coloured paper/card; Sticky notes; Marker pens; Sticking tape; Stapler; String; Room C (Informal Education) – Newspapers; a single Sticky Note that says, “make hats”. Facilitator A will manage the formal education group in Room A, Facilitator B will manage the non-formal education group in Room B, and the informal education group in Room C will have no facilitator. 2. Implementation The facilitators divide the group into 4 equal teams. Team A will learn about formal education, Team B will experience non-formal education, Team C get informal education and Team D will be observers of the entire process. Tip: The method has more impact if the 4 teams are NOT told that they are learning about the different forms of education until the debriefing stage. Up until that point, the facilitators should only discuss the making of hats. All the teams go about their tasks at the same time and independently of each other. Teams A, B and C have 15 minutes to make a paper hat for themselves before reuniting as a whole group to discuss the experience. Facilitator A should give the following instructions to each of the teams in the following order: Team C in Room C (Informal Education) – “Please go to Room C. Do not leave the room for 15 minutes, at that point, please return here.” Team B in Room B (Non-Formal Education) – “Please go to Room B with Facilitator B. Do not leave the room for 15 minutes, at that point, please return here.” The role of Facilitator B is to create hats with the participants. They can use any materials that are available and Facilitator B should encourage the team to be as creative as possible and, “to make hats that reflect your own personalities.” Team D (Observers) – “Please take a pen and some writing paper. Your task is to move from room to room, watching the other teams and recording what you see. Make notes on the similarities and differences between their behaviour. Do not disturb or interact with the other teams. In 15 minutes, please return here.” Team A in Room A (Formal Education) – “Please come with me to Room A.” Facilitator A will now give clear instructions on how to make a traditional newspaper hat. His/Her role is only to demonstrate the hat-making process. Team A has to follow the instructions exactly so that all of their finished hats