Feedback and evaluation

A post-event survey revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback:

Creativity and engagement:
Participants praised the hands-on approach and the opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from diverse disciplines.

Critical thinking:
Many noted that the activity deepened their understanding of global justice issues.

Action-oriented learning:
Participants felt inspired to integrate GCDE principles into their work and personal lives.

Areas for Improvement:

• Clearer instructions and more structured facilitation for some activities.
• Larger venues to accommodate more participants and facilitate collaboration.
• Extended time for group discussions and reflections.

Part 2: Application of this methodology for educators

The Mystery Box Challenge offers third-level educators a dynamic and creative way to bring Global Citizenship and Development Education (GCDE) into their classrooms or workshops. By introducing complex global issues in an engaging, hands-on format, this methodology can help students develop a deeper understanding of global justice themes while fostering critical thinking, interdisciplinary learning, and action-oriented outcomes.

In this section, you will find examples of ways to adapt the Mystery Box concept to your own context. Additionally, some lesson plan examples are provided in Appendix 3.

2.1. Bringing the Mystery Box Challenge to higher education

For educators in higher education, the Mystery Box Challenge can be a powerful tool to introduce students to GCDE in a meaningful and impactful way. Here are some examples of how the methodology could be implemented:

As a standalone project:
In a course on global justice, international relations, or social responsibility, the Mystery Box Challenge can serve as a central project spanning several weeks. Each box would contain materials related to a specific GCDE theme (e.g., migration, climate change, economic inequality). Students would work individually or in groups to explore their assigned theme, create a project based on the contents of the box, and present their findings in a final class session or public exhibition.

As Part of an existing course:
The Mystery Box Challenge can be seamlessly integrated into any course focusing on global issues, development, or ethics. For instance, in a political science class, a mystery box on international human rights could encourage students to investigate the legal, social, and cultural dimensions of a case study. In a business course, students could analyze the ethical implications of global supply chains and propose sustainable business solutions.

In interdisciplinary courses or workshops:
The collaborative nature of the Mystery Box Challenge makes it an excellent fit for interdisciplinary learning environments. In a university-wide initiative like Praxis Week, educators from different departments can collaborate to use mystery boxes to introduce students to GCDE from multiple perspectives. For example, a box could combine elements of sociology, environmental science, and economics to explore the global impacts of climate change, encouraging students from diverse disciplines to collaborate on creative solutions.

Examples across disciplines

Social Studies/History: Use the challenge to examine historical and contemporary global issues such as migration, colonialism, or conflict. Mystery boxes can include historical documents, case studies, or artifacts, allowing students to critically assess how past events shape modern society.

Environmental Science: Tailor the boxes to focus on sustainability, biodiversity, and climate change. Students can be tasked with mapping global environmental challenges, creating models of sustainable solutions, or exploring the links between social justice and environmental degradation.

Economics/Business: Analyze global economic systems, focusing on fair trade, corporate social responsibility, or economic justice. Students could investigate the ethical dimensions of production and consumption or design business models that prioritize sustainability and social justice.

Art and Design: Engage students in creative expressions of cultural identity, resistance, and global justice. Mystery boxes can include materials that inspire visual or multimedia projects, allowing students to explore global themes through artistic representation.

Language and Literature: Encourage students to explore global perspectives through literature, poetry, or storytelling. Boxes can include works from marginalized voices or different cultures, fostering empathy and cross-cultural understanding through narrative exploration.

2.2. Facilitating Critical Thinking

The Mystery Box Challenge is designed to push students beyond surface-level engagement, fostering deep critical thinking and analysis. Through this methodology, students actively engage with the contents of their mystery boxes, analyze their relevance to global themes, and apply their findings to real-world issues.

Educators can enhance critical thinking by encouraging students to:

Analyze the contents of the box:
What do the materials suggest about the theme? How do they connect to broader global challenges?

Critique global power dynamics:
Who benefits from current systems? Who is marginalized or oppressed? Students can examine issues such as wealth inequality, environmental degradation, or human rights abuses through this critical lens.

Reflect on personal responsibility:
How are they, as global citizens, implicated in these issues? What actions can they take to address these challenges?

The reflective aspect of the challenge allows students to articulate their thoughts through group discussions, presentations, or written reflections, deepening their engagement with GCDE themes.

2.3. Encouraging action-oriented learning

One of the core principles of GCDE is to inspire students not just to learn about global issues but to take informed action to address them. The Mystery Box Challenge naturally lends itself to action-oriented learning, allowing students to move from theoretical understanding to practical solutions.

Educators can use the challenge to:

• Encourage Advocacy: After exploring their mystery box theme, students can create campaigns, presentations, or social media projects to raise awareness about the issue.
• Propose Solutions: Students can develop proposals for real-world initiatives or community projects that address the global challenges highlighted in their boxes.
• Engage in Service Learning: Partner with local NGOs or community organizations to allow students to apply their knowledge in practical ways, whether through volunteer work, fundraising, or organizing events that address the issues they’ve explored.

This approach helps students feel empowered and capable of contributing to positive change, reinforcing the belief that they can be proactive global citizens.

2.4. Adapting the methodology for other educational settings

While the Mystery Box Challenge was initially designed for university-level students, it is highly adaptable for use in primary and secondary schools, as well as community and youth groups.

Primary Schools:

• For younger learners, simplify the complexity of the themes to focus on age-appropriate global issues, such as environmental sustainability (e.g., “How can we help save the planet?”) or social inclusion (e.g., “What does it mean to be kind and fair to others?”).
• Include picture cards, simple fact sheets, craft materials, and games in the mystery boxes to help children engage with the themes in a hands-on and playful manner.
• Guide students in creating artwork, posters, or simple projects that reflect their learning, encouraging teamwork and creativity.

Secondary Schools:

• Secondary students can handle more complex topics, such as climate change, human rights, or global poverty. Integrate the challenge into subjects like geography, history, or civics to provide students with a practical approach to learning about global issues.
• Include newspaper articles, case studies, interactive materials, and prompts for students to conduct their own research or discussions in the boxes.
• Encourage group projects that require students to present solutions or propose action plans for global challenges, fostering leadership, critical thinking, and presentation skills.

Community and Youth Groups:

• In informal education settings, such as youth groups or community organizations, the Mystery Box Challenge can engage young people with global justice issues in a creative and collaborative way.
• Tailor the boxes to themes relevant to the community or the group’s interests, such as social justice, environmental action, or global interconnectedness.
• Use the challenge to spark

Conclusion

The Mystery Box Challenge successfully demonstrated the power of creativity and collaboration in addressing complex global issues. By engaging participants in an immersive and reflective process, the event not only deepened their understanding of GCDE but also inspired actionable change. This methodology holds great potential for adaptation in diverse educational and professional contexts, making it a valuable tool for fostering global citizenship and development education.

 
Full resource: “The Mystery Box Challenge: An educational resource to unpack global justice challenges.”is available for download in PDF format at
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