Short answer

Design projects should aim to transform passive appreciation of heritage into active critical engagement, prompting users to consider its evolving meaning and impact.

Field
Classic Design
Source
Education Sciences (2023)
Method
Action Research Case Study
Sample
160 student teachers
Evidence
Moderate effect

Intangible heritage, when actively engaged with, can foster critical thinking about societal values and their transmission. This classic design research insight is drawn from a 2023 study published in Education Sciences. Using Action research case study with 160 student teachers, researchers explored how this design variable affects real-world outcomes. The key design takeaway: Design projects should aim to transform passive appreciation of heritage into active critical engagement, prompting users to consider its evolving meaning and impact.

Study
Classic DesignRecentModerate effect

Intangible Heritage as a Catalyst for Critical Citizenship Education

Intangible heritage, when actively engaged with, can foster critical thinking about societal values and their transmission.

Education Sciences · 2023

01

Key Findings

  • 01Student teachers increased their appreciation for intangible heritage and recognized its value as an educational resource for critical citizenship.
  • 02A tendency persisted to view heritage primarily through a lens of preservation and respect, without always questioning its contemporary relevance or suitability for future generations.
02

Application

Design takeaway

Design projects should aim to transform passive appreciation of heritage into active critical engagement, prompting users to consider its evolving meaning and impact.

How to apply

Incorporate elements of intangible heritage into design projects that aim to educate or foster civic awareness, ensuring the design encourages critical reflection rather than mere observation.

Project actions

  • 01Consider how your design can encourage users to question the origins and ongoing relevance of cultural elements.
  • 02Explore how intangible heritage can be a starting point for discussions on contemporary social issues.
03

Method & Evidence

AimTo explore the potential of intangible heritage in fostering critical citizenship education among pre-service primary teachers.
MethodAction Research Case Study
ProcedureStudent primary education teachers participated in a didactic project focused on social issues related to the Way of Saint James, with their perceptions of intangible heritage and its educational role being investigated before and after the project using questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups.
Sample160 student teachers
ContextTeacher education, cultural heritage education, citizenship education

Variables

IVDidactic project focused on intangible heritage and social problems
DVPerceptions of intangible heritage and its didactic potential in critical citizenship education
CVTeacher training context, specific heritage focus (Way of Saint James)
04

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

  • +Utilizes action research, allowing for practical intervention and reflection.
  • +Employs multiple data collection methods (questionnaire, interview, focus group) for triangulation.

Limitations

The effectiveness of intangible heritage in fostering critical citizenship may vary significantly depending on the specific heritage item and the educational context.

Reliability & validity

Triangulation of data from questionnaires, interviews, and focus groups enhances validity. Longitudinal data collection over three academic years may improve reliability.

Think critically

To what extent does the 'traditional' approach to heritage education hinder the development of 'critical' citizenship, and how can design actively disrupt this?

05

Design Principles

"Design for critical heritage engagement: facilitate active questioning and reinterpretation of cultural legacies."

Understanding how cultural legacies are maintained and perceived is crucial for designers aiming to create products or experiences that resonate with users' sense of identity and belonging. This insight highlights the potential for design to bridge historical context with contemporary social issues.

06

What This Means for Your Design

Learning about traditions passed down through generations can help people think critically about society and their role in it, but sometimes people just focus on keeping traditions alive without asking if they are still useful.

How to use in your project

  • 1.Use this research to justify the inclusion of cultural heritage elements in your design project, particularly if it aims to promote social awareness or critical thinking.
07

Add to My Project

08

Quick Cite

Paragraph starter

This study by Pérez Guilarte and García-Morís (2023) highlights the potential of intangible heritage to foster critical citizenship education. Their research with pre-service teachers revealed that while participants gained an appreciation for heritage, a tendency to passively preserve it persisted. This suggests that design interventions aiming to leverage heritage for educational purposes must actively encourage critical questioning of its contemporary value and relevance.

09

Source

Education Sciences

The Role of Intangible Heritage in Critical Citizenship Education: An Action Research Case Study with Student Primary Education Teachers

journal · 2023

View source

Questions About This Research

What does the research say about intangible heritage as a catalyst for critical citizenship education?
Design projects should aim to transform passive appreciation of heritage into active critical engagement, prompting users to consider its evolving meaning and impact. Evidence: Education Sciences (2023).
Why does "Intangible Heritage as a Catalyst for Critical Citizenship Education" matter for design?
Understanding how cultural legacies are maintained and perceived is crucial for designers aiming to create products or experiences that resonate with users' sense of identity and belonging. This insight highlights the potential for design to bridge historical context with contemporary social issues.
How can designers apply this research?
Design projects should aim to transform passive appreciation of heritage into active critical engagement, prompting users to consider its evolving meaning and impact.
What were the main findings?
Student teachers increased their appreciation for intangible heritage and recognized its value as an educational resource for critical citizenship.. A tendency persisted to view heritage primarily through a lens of preservation and respect, without always questioning its contemporary relevance or suitability for future generations.
What research method was used?
Action Research Case Study with 160 student teachers.
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence strength is rated Moderate effect, based on a 2023 journal from Education Sciences.
What should I do differently in my next project?
Incorporate elements of intangible heritage into design projects that aim to educate or foster civic awareness, ensuring the design encourages critical reflection rather than mere observation.
What are the limitations?
The study's focus on a specific heritage route and teacher training context may limit generalizability.