Building Blocks Concept

What are building blocks?

Building blocks are methodically diverse, 15 to 90-minute learning/teaching units that deal with central topics relating to social and ecological responsibility in engineering. In terms of content and didactics, they are designed in such a way that learning and teaching processes are largely shaped by the participants, see the student-driven course concept of Blue Engineering.

How does a building block work?

Participants actively develop content - alone or in groups -, link it with their own knowledge, form their own positions and exchange different perspectives. The formats range from role-playing games and simulated court hearings to talk shows, station-based learning and multimedia and playful approaches.

What do I need to bring with me to carry out a building block?

Building blocks do not require participants to have any prior specialist knowledge - the decisive factor is their willingness to actively participate. The facilitators do not need to be experts either: around two hours of preparation is enough to familiarize yourself with the topic and the methods. Their role is that of a moderator, not a knowledge broker.

Who developed the building blocks?

Most of the building blocks were developed by students as part of their participation in the Blue Engineering course Berlin. They developed, tested, revised and documented the building blocks in detail - with the support of tutors and teachers. In particular, the basic building blocks of the Blue Engineering course were developed intensively by tutors and teachers, tested and improved over several semesters, so that they are of consistently high quality.

Under which license are building blocks published?

All building blocks are published under the open license CC BY-SA 4.0. They may be freely used, adapted and further developed - provided that the license is retained and the origin is indicated.

How are building blocks used in the Blue Engineering course?

In the course, building blocks are used in different phases: There are fixed basic building blocks that are guided by the tutors, building blocks that are adopted and implemented by the participants, and completely new building blocks that are developed during the course. An overview can be found on the course concept page.

How are building blocks linked together?

Although building blocks are basically stand-alone, they can be linked together thematically, methodically or reflectively - and this is exactly where the RAD AB, SCHRAUBE LOCKER toolbox for dismantling technology and society comes into play. The tools draw attention to deeper structures of human thought, action and argumentation. Each of the 24 tools reveals a pattern that is visible in very different, seemingly separate areas of society.