Resource 5

ACT - Association for Citizenship Teaching
Community cohesion and the prevention of violent extremism
A resource for teachers to use in the classroom


Resource title
Identity, Diversity and Citizenship – A critical review of educational resources
Source: http://www.teachingcitizenship.org.uk/dnloads/identity_diversity.doc
Outline
This review was published in October 2007 before the use of current terms such as community cohesion and prevention of violent extremism, though it signposts readers to numerous aspects of these. The review is not intended to recommend specific resources, but rather draw attention to the scope of resources available for teaching the KS 3&4 Citizenship education concept Identity and Diversity: Living Together in the UK. In doing so it raises enquiry about the nature of such resources, poses questions for teachers in considering developing teaching and learning activities and discusses a range of issues and themes including:
  • Identity, belonging and community
  • Britain as a multicultural society
  • Patriotism
  • The concept of multiple identities
  • National identity and Britishness
  • Religious diversity, faith and identity
  • Immigration and asylum
  • Racism, prejudice and discrimination
  • EU and Commonwealth
The review outlines common problems with resources that portend to support teaching about identity, diversity and cohesion, providing critical guidance on the quality of the resources, their breadth and scope and how they can be used to engage the learner. The resource has a comprehensive appendix listing the reviewed resources and web sites and the 'Conclusions and Recommendations' section draws attention to key concerns regarding the nature of many of the teaching materials.

This review is still the only such publication available to provide such a critique. It is most useful for existing Citizenship education teachers who are considering resource development and creating new learning activities, as well as to teachers in training and those involved in CPD in Citizenship education, RE and History.
Links across other subjects within resource
This review will also inform choices of teaching materials and resources in History, Geography, RE, English and Drama.
Additional support
Teachers can also find this resource on the Citizenship Foundation website at http://www.citizenshipfoundation.org.uk/lib_res_pdf/0747.pdf

Teachers may also find this a useful source of materials and ideas for exploring Identity and Diversity: Living Together in the UK
http://www.unicef.org.uk/tz/resources/index.asp?nodeid=browseres&section=6