Dealing with Ambiguity

Content

“In a world of change, learners shall inherit the earth. While the learned shall find themselves perfectly equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffman
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What is the right answer? What solution is the best? What if there are more answers and solutions?
Being able to deal with ambiguity is crucial when it comes to international youth work. It means most of the time to deal with issues/ problems that doesn’t have a clear answer. It can mean as well being unclear about someone’s motivations or intentions, not knowing exactly where you stand within a group or organisation. 
Even though dealing with ambiguity might look scary it shouldn't frightened you. It is challenging but at the same time beautiful.  It supports learning that can lead in creating new ways, new opportunities for young people.
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How to deal with ambiguity is a learning process it self. Is not about ticking boxes or having a do to list, but is more building a set of skills, attitudes and behaviors. It often means that we should learn how to be able to tolerate and manage change effectively, or to shift gears and change our course. Is about being curious on what is going on around us, listen to others and sense the environment and also to acknowledge what you know and what you don’t know. 
It often means that is ok to just let it go! 
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This educational activity was created to support youth workers' competence development in the "Programme design" area and is part of the Playlist. Playlist through its activity content and badge issuing criteria aligned with the European Training Strategy (ETS) competence model for youth workers to work internationally:
Competence in action (behaviour):
Has the courage to improvise and experiment and recognises the importance of this 
 Is OK with imperfections, failures, and mistakes
Attitude: 
Readiness to improvise and accept ambiguitY
Being open towards learning/unexpected learning (for oneself and others)
Willingness to address ethical issues as a source of learning about and from others. Being open and accepting that failure is a part of learning
Skills: 
Empathising in a way that others can learn from one’s experience
Ability to generate conditions where group members can show and build solidarity within the group

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Dealing with Ambiguity Get this badge

“In a world of change, learners shall inherit the earth. While the learned shall find themselves perfectly equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffman
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This badge demonstrates the effort put into understanding ambiguity in youth work. 
To earn the badge, individuals must:
- Understand the concept of ambiguity and the importance of dealing with it in international youth work 
- Reflect upon their ambiguous times in their youth work practice. To reflect upon the situation, their emotions, and their attitudes. 
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Tasks

Task no.1

Evidence verified by: one activity organiser

To earn an ambiguous badge, 
Watch the video about "Dealing with Ambiguity" and take some moments to reflect upon it. What does it take at the end to deal with ambiguity?  Try to relate to the examples in the video and think if you have ever been in ambiguous situations in life. 
Now think about an ambiguous time in your youth work practice and write it down! What was it? Who was involved? How you reacted? What was the feeling? Have you felt something in your body? Have your behaviour changed?

Skills

EntreComp

#Coping with uncertainty, ambiguity and risk

ETS-TR

#Dares to face and deal adequately with ambiguity with regard to the group’s and individuals’ realities

ETS-TR

#Reflecting acceptance of ambiguity and change

ETS-TR

#Refers to theories, concepts and experiences that relate to ambiguity and change in the activity and when designing the educational approach

Personal development

Added to playlist (0)

Organisers

Nectarus

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