Reality check – Sweden’s first app against racism

Core features of the practice


  • Organisation:

    Institution name: Order of the Teaspoon
    Institution URL: http://www.teskedsorden.se/english/
  • Format:

    Instructional material, Other
  • Target population:

    Students, Young people, Educators in formal settings
  • Cost (per practice):

    Free
  • Setting:

    No specific setting required
  • Themes:

    Citizenship/democracy education, Racism, Human rights/discrimination
  • Core activities:

    Other

Additional information about the practice


    Target population

  • Number of participants:

    Not applicable
  • Age of target population:

    16-18
  • Additional specifics:

    National/local specifities (e.g. activity targeted to Swedish school students), Other:, The main target group of the app is young people age 13-19, in or outside of schools

    • Components of the practice

  • Topics and objectives:

    Racism exists, even today. This app is based upon testimonies by young Swedes, about racism they meet in their everyday life. The app also gives advice and support in handling racism for everyone that sees and experiences it. With the aim of tackling racism in a new way, the Order of the Teaspoon has during 2018 released Sweden’s first educational App against racism called Reality Check. The game works as a tool for teachers to raise discussions around issues of racism within the classroom and provides them with a modern way of discussing democracy and human rights in schools. According to the values and objectives stated in the Swedish curriculum, teachers are encouraged to actively work against discrimination, and develop among pupils greater respect for human rights, diversity and basic democratic values. But too often teachers admit struggling with this task. Reality Check enables them to overcome this problem by providing a practical tool that is designed to respond specifically to the requirements of the curriculum: that ‘xenophobia and intolerance must be combatted through knowledge, an open discussion and active efforts’.
  • Materials used:

    Audiovisual material, Online material, It's an app, and a manual for teachers describing how it can be used in the classroom.
  • Material produced:

    Not applicable
  • Sequence of activities - methodology:

    Students play Reality Check over a week-long period. In the game, they take on characters who are racialized as non-white and experience different forms of discrimination, prejudices and/or racism that many young people face on a daily basis. Throughout the game, various scenarios occur where the player has the option to reflect and act on discriminatory and racist behaviours that their character encounters. There is also the option to play a character who is “anonymous”. By playing the anonymous character, the student can explore how a by-stander might be able to intervene when others are subjected to racism, and how to notice banal, everyday racism within society. The storyline of Reality Check is based on interviews with young people and their individual experiences of racism and/or discrimination in Sweden. Their contribution has been essential, as our goal was to create a game they can relate to and which accurately represents their everyday experiences. One of the participants, aged 14, was quoted as saying ‘my teacher told me to be careful with touching the newly painted wall so that my colour wouldn’t come off on the wall’.
  • Length of activity:

    More than 15 hours
  • Is the activity digital?:

    Yes: It's an app called Reality Check. It's available for both iPhone and Android.

    • Accessibility and replicability

  • Language(s) in which activity can be delivered:

    Swedish
  • Is specialist knowledge or professional training required?:

    No

Qualitative Details


  • Has this practice been evaluated?

    No
  • Core content knowledge and transferable skills:

    With the premise that racism must be challenged on multiple levels within society this app is a great addition to other means of combating racism and is, above all, a modern way of approaching and engaging with young people. The Order of the Teaspoon puts its focus on teaching the importance of tolerance and diversity within the classroom through a variety of projects andnwe pay particular attention to encouraging reflective and critical thinking on issues such as racism, xenophobia and misogyny. Another important aim is to inspire young people to take a stand against racism in their everyday lives and consequently contribute to a more inclusive and respectful society. Reality check is a unique example of how educational technology can be used to achieve these goals.
  • Indicators of success:

    An app is a modern way of approaching and engaging with young people. It's an interactive pedagogical method. The Order of the Teaspoon wants to encourage reflective and critical thinking on issues such as racism, xenophobia and misogyny. Another important aim is to inspire young people to take a stand against racism in their everyday lives and consequently contribute to a more inclusive and respectful society. It's cost efficient because everyone can use it, without the need for us at the The Order of the Teaspoon to be involved. Everyone with a phone can use it by themselves! The app is based on stories and testimonies from kids. It's real stories about racism in our society, not created by someone "behind a desk", without any experience of racism.
  • Educational coordinator contact details:

    Name: Camilla Rehn
    Email address: camilla.rehn@teskedsorden.se

Scalability

The RETHINK project is concerned with bridging formal and informal education. This section explores the factors that make a practice adaptable.


  • Key factors for successful implementation:

    Other factor – please specify, It's a new and modern way in reflection about these important issues (an app)
  • Main challenges to teachers adapting this practice for their students:

    The students need to understand the meaning of some of the key elements, lika racism and xenophobia. And all students don't see racism as a problem. (Often the fact if the student his-/herself never has been treated in a racist way, or called something racist.)
  • Availability of guidance/training/replication materials (and in what language/format currently):

    A manual for teachers is available free of charge (pdf), via our website. In Swedish.
  • Other comments or details:

    Please contact us if you have any questions.