By Mica Peres
The School of Activism is a collective of people that was formed in 2012 seeking to strengthen activist groups, through learning processes in strategies and techniques for non-violent and creative actions, campaigns, communication, mobilization and information security. Formed by a multidisciplinary group of people who are also activists, the actions developed by the School are aimed at defending democracy, human rights and sustainability.
The demands received by the School in recent times have changed in accordance with technological changes, especially in recent months with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has significantly changed the way we interact online. In this sense, the School developed material with what they called “clues” for “online” learning processes. According to the School itself, “Clues, as it is not a guide or a recipe, since each meeting and each group is unique. Here you will find possibilities in the form of pills that can increase virtuality and make this cybertime better enjoyed by all of us.”
The material (available HERE) helps you understand digital tools and online learning methodologies that can facilitate the organization of events and meetings. The School begins the document by presenting some guiding questions before the meeting. The proposed reflections are presented with the aim of understanding the reality of the people involved, based on an active listening process. Furthermore, it goes through a process of understanding possible limitations of each participant's physical space, according to the School, it is necessary to “understand the place where people are [as] a way of anticipating the limitations of some activities and also establishing a relationship between person and space”.
In addition to the physical space, it is also necessary to understand the virtual space used, think about how many people will be present, which platform and how to use it. Anticipating this type of information means being prepared to let the meetings flow. In this sense, the School presents, in this material, “clues” on how to make the technical part something more practical and safe to use.
Other types of information are needed during the meeting and the School also provides tips on how to deal with the dynamics of “online”/online work, something that is still unfamiliar to many groups and organizations. Think about how to present the information during the event, how the script is organized, how the speeches will be introduced, how the recording will be done... These are details of actions that are already common in other types of meetings and which may take some time for the total adaptation in virtual spaces. Seeking to assist in this adaptation, the report presents a robust number of action tips that have already been tested in other spaces and that can be replicated in other groups and organizations.
But that's not all, the post-meeting is something that is also taken into consideration in a specific way for “online” meetings. According to the School, “having a space to resolve possible doubts, send questions, and share materials – challenges, games and videos are always welcome as activities in addition to guides, texts and booklets that can support the group when the meetings are over”.
These are just a few points raised by the School of Activism that can help your organization or group with new forms of online meetings. To find out more, visit (link).
