Values Co-Creation Lab

A participatory workshop where students explore school values, reflect on how they fit with their own beliefs, and co-design adaptations or actions. By offering choices and real influence, the activity strengthens personal autonomy while aligning individual and school values.

✍️ Klaus Linde-Leimer

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⏱️ Duration Up to 30 minutes

🔄 Frequency Once a month

👥 Target Group Students

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Purpose

Enable students to express how school values relate to their personal freedom, give them space to suggest changes, and let them co-decide concrete actions. This increases ownership, motivation, and a sense that the school respects their autonomy.

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Use and Learning Outcomes

1. Students experience real choice and influence over school culture
2. Greater alignment between personal values and school values
3. Improved intrinsic motivation and responsibility
4. Students learn to negotiate shared values respectfully
5. Concrete student-led actions are generated and implemented

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Wellbeing References

Basic Needs

🕊️ Freedom

Quality Dimensions

School culture

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Details & Preparation

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Room Requirements

Classroom or meeting room with flexible seating (small groups). A wall/flipchart for posting values, sticky notes, and a projector (optional) to show examples. Quiet space for small-group discussions.

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Preparation

- Prepare a list of the school’s official values (print/display).
- Create Values Reflection Cards (one per student) and Values Suggestion Cards.
- Prepare flipcharts or large paper for group posters.
- Prepare colored sticky notes and markers.
- Facilitator reads the short facilitation script and example prompts.

Principles to observe:
- Guarantee voluntary participation and respect for differing views.
- Commit to taking feasible student suggestions seriously (clear follow-up).
- Offer multiple ways to contribute (spoken, written, anonymous)

Time for preparation: 15–25 minutes

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Materials

- Printed one-page list of school values (or projected)
- Values Reflection Card (handout)
- Values Suggestion Card (handout)
- Sticky notes (3 colors), markers, flipchart/board, tape
- Voting stickers (dots) or digital poll option

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Sequence of Steps

Introduction

⏱ 5 minutes

Facilitator explains purpose: “We value freedom here — that means you should be able to be yourself and help shape school life. Today we’ll check how our school values match your own and how you can influence them.”
State rules: respect, voluntary sharing, follow-up on ideas.

Personal Reflection

⏱ 5-7 minutes

Each student fills a Values Reflection Card (short prompts): Which school value matters most to me? Where do I feel free/not free? One concrete example. (Silent writing.)

Small-group Sharing & Mapping

⏱ 8–10 minutes

Students form groups of 3–4, share one highlight from their card, and place sticky notes on a group poster: green = value aligns, yellow = partly, red = conflicts with my freedom. Groups summarize one main tension and one opportunity.

Suggest & Choose

⏱ 8–10 minutes

Groups write concrete proposals on Values Suggestion Cards: small changes, activities, or rules that would increase freedom while respecting core values. All proposals are posted; the class uses dot-voting (or digital poll) to select 1–2 proposals to pilot.

Action Planning & Closing

⏱ 5 minutes

For each selected proposal the group names: who will do it, when (date), and one small first step. Facilitator records commitments and explains the follow-up process (report back next meeting). Quick round: one sentence — “My commitment is…”

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Reflection & Tips

Reflection

- Quick written check (1 sentence): “One thing I learned about our values today is…”
- Thumbs up/sideways/down about how free they felt to contribute.

Tips for Implementation

- Make follow-up visible: publish a short action update so students see their influence.
- Offer multiple contribution channels: spoken, written, anonymous digital form.
- Scale: For whole-school use, bring representatives from each class.
- Prevent overload: Limit pilot proposals to 1–2 small, achievable actions per cycle.
- Rotate facilitation to build student leadership and autonomy.

Variants
- Mini version (15 min): Reflection + 1 quick vote (use for weekly check-ins).
- Extended workshop (90 min): Deeper negotiation, stakeholder invite (teachers/parents), project planning.

Cross-references
- Student Voice Forum (decision making / Power)
- Class Agreements Workshop (co-creating rules)
- Values in Action Showcase (presentation of implemented pilots)

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Files & Attachments

English

DOCX Freedom_01_HO_Values-Suggestion-Card.docx ⬇ Download