My Favourite Mistake - A training course on supporting positive learning from mistakes

The aim of this training course is to focus on learning, how we can come to a new approach for dealing with mistakes and how we can support young people in dealing with mistakes in a positive, constructive way. We will use different methods and techniques, with a strong influence of theatre and reflective techniques, creating an atmosphere in which making mistakes is being experienced, explored and reflected upon. The objectives of the training course are: - To reflect about mistakes, the role of mistakes in a learning process and our cultural perception towards mistakes. - To explore a new approach of techniques and methodologies for learning from mistakes in a positive, constructive way. - To explore how we can support young people we work with on dealing with mistakes for learning both in formal and non-formal settings - To explore how a new approach to learning from mistakes is connected to different actions within the Erasmus+ programme We do this in the following steps: 1) Exploration of mistakes Personal level: Experience how it feels to make a mistake and reflect on this Cultural level: Discussing how our cultural background influences how we look at making mistakes Linking mistakes with learning: coming to a common ground of the importance of mistakes as an essential part for learning 2) Experiencing how mistakes can be welcomed for learning Exploring how mistakes play a positive role in learning Play with making mistakes How we can change our attitudes, feelings and beliefs about mistakes 3)How can we support young people in dealing with mistakes in a positive way? Explore different ways and come to a different professional approach to use mistakes for learning 4) Connecting our new approach to our realities by using Erasmus+ How do we use mistakes for learning in various actions within Erasmus+ How can we support our own young people? Target group Youth workers, youth leaders, teachers and other professionals working with young people, who are interested in exploring a new and innovative approach to learning. Background Learning is important for dealing with a fast changing world, to adapt to new challenges. Making mistakes is an essential part of learning. We are all taught we learn by mistakes, but every one of us hate and dread them. At the same time we all make mistakes even if nobody thinks we should. Young people today are faced with enormous possibilities of choices related to any aspects of their lives. Given this proliferation of choice can they ever get it right? The question is how formal and non-formal education can support young people in performing to their best potential and take into account that they will fail and that failing is part of the learning process? Is it possible to experiment and create an educational setting where mistakes are welcomed and allowed as an unavoidable learning experience? What will happen to our creativity and entrepreneurship in this kind of environment? We believe that it is important to challenge the way we look at making mistakes, and to come to a positive approach towards mistakes as an essential part of learning. Professionals working with young people are important for supporting the learning of young people, especially in dealing with making mistakes for positive outcomes, helping them to deal and learn from a situation that fails to go according to plan and turn it into something beneficial for their learning. "If you are not prepared to be wrong, you'll never come up with anything original" - Sir Ken Robinson