Teachers adapted their teaching according to their students’ requirements

During the Covid-19 pandemic in the Norwegian town of Drammen, students in a small private upper secondary school suggested that the teachers should change their digital platform for distance learning from Zoom to Discord, which is an online tool used for voice and text communication.

The students felt that the audio quality of Zoom was too poor and that other key features were missing, such as a chat function that was available both before and after classes. The suggestion was made by one of the students and a decision was made to change the platform. Both teachers and students found that the new platform provided easy and intuitive information sharing. However, the platform did not allow for video meetings and some teachers therefore continued to use Zoom for the actual classes, while using Discord for other purposes.

“We very much appreciated being listened to. And I think it was possible because I went to a small private school, where it was easy for the teachers to make this decision without too much bureaucracy.” (Jesper Strøm, student)

The importance of individual teachers and other adults who meet children and youth on a daily basis was emphasised by many participants in the focus groups. Adults who engage with children and youth both in school and during their leisure time play a key role in creating opportunities for participation in decision-making in their everyday lives. The participants from Greenland and Iceland, who felt they had had little or no conversations with political decision makers during the Covid-19 pandemic, described how their teachers listened to them and made the necessary changes in order to improve their learning environment.

“Teachers were checking up on us. They really tried to improve their education.” (Embla Líf Hallsdottír, UMFI, Icelandic Youth Association)

Key learning: Decision makers at all levels can make a difference in the lives of children and youth and affect their level of participation in matters that influence their life situations. These adults do not necessarily see themselves as decision makers but will often play a key role in the lives of children and youth in times of crises. However, the role they play is also influenced by their mandate and the flexibility of the structures within which they operate.