Is Co-Creation the Key?

Imagine entering a large hall filled with hundreds of people of all ages. It's a meeting where eight municipalities are represented, and participants are co-creating by visualizing and planning a desired future. In workshops and collaborative sessions, teachers, school leaders, students, parents, and politicians come together to share their perspectives and ideas on how schools, kindergartens, and the overall upbringing environment should evolve. They work in groups to create concrete visions—future scenarios—focusing on student involvement, safety, and relevant learning. Everyone has the opportunity to contribute, and through this collaboration, participants develop a shared ownership of the goals, ensuring that all feel included in the development process. 

How can we ensure that all children and young people receive an upbringing and education that truly prepares them for the future? This question has been posed by many, and the municipalities in Nordmøre, along with partners like IMTEC, have found some exciting answers. By working together across boundaries, levels, and roles, we've seen that co-creation can make a significant difference. Let me explain why this approach works so well and how it can be even more effective. 

One of the most important lessons we've learned is that everyone must pull in the same direction to achieve good results. What we call "the pedagogical value chain" involves transforming political goals into concrete actions that make a positive difference for students—in the classroom, at school, in kindergarten, and in life in general. By bringing together politicians, school leaders, teachers, and students, we've managed to create a shared understanding of where we're headed and why. When all involved understand the goal and agree on how to get there, achieving effective learning becomes much easier. 

Perhaps the most crucial aspect is co-creation. Co-creation means that everyone—whether teachers, students, parents, or politicians—participates in shaping solutions. No one holds all the answers alone; instead, we build them together, piece by piece, by sharing experiences and ideas. This not only leads to better solutions but also fosters ownership: when you've been part of forming a plan, you're more invested in its implementation. Co-creation is about giving everyone a voice and getting everyone on board. 

In Nordmøre, we've built a network of networks. What does that mean? It means we've assembled groups and collaborations that cross municipalities, roles, and levels, allowing everyone working with upbringing—whether in kindergartens, schools, or political offices—to learn from each other. This enables us to tackle complex challenges together, rather than standing alone. The networks have become arenas where we can share, discuss, and find the best solutions together. This gives us great strength in ensuring a good upbringing for all children and young people. 

For schools to succeed, they need support from the top. Municipalities play a crucial role in bridging politics and practice, ensuring that set goals are actionable in schools and kindergartens. Through the networks, we've provided strong support to schools, and when school leaders receive the help they need, they can, in turn, support teachers, who then can offer children the best possible daily experience. It's about ensuring that all links in the chain work well together. 

Of course, we want to know if what we're doing actually works! To find out, we've looked for "traces of change." We've talked to those involved, observed how relationships between teachers and students develop, and measured trust and collaboration. What we've found is that when we replace control with trust, good things happen. Relationships between teachers, leaders, and students become stronger, creating a better learning culture. 

In kindergartens and schools, leaders have changed their approach. Leadership now focuses more on building good relationships, connecting people, and ensuring that everyone works toward the same goals. Values like participation, safety, and learning are put into practice every day. These values ensure that children and young people have a good school experience where they feel seen and heard. When leaders are clear, and values are reflected in everything they do, it influences teachers and children positively. 

What should we do next to build on this positive development? We must continue to build new networks when needed, ensure stable leadership, and work together to create a shared culture. It's important that we all—whether teachers, students, or politicians—continue to co-create and build connections that make sense.