In today's world, where the climate and biodiversity crises are becoming increasingly urgent, teaching green skills in schools is essential. Educators must take the opportunity to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to meet the environmental problems of the future. And it's a challenge that goes beyond the learning - it’s about to inspire hope and show that change is actually possible. For the latest edition of the course "Green Skills for Education: Promoting Environmental Awareness and Sustainable Actions in the Classroom" in Palermo from 16/06/2024 to 22/06/2024 participants from all over Europe came together to learn more about how to integrate sustainability skills in the classroom: Rani, Sarah, Jolien and Anne from UHasselt in Belgium and Sonia from Aixerrota BHI in Spain. There were also two participants from Finland: Heidi and Kaisa from Maikkula School as well as Éva from Óbudai Árpád Gimnázium in Hungary, Gabriella from Chastno osnovno uchilishte “Obrazovatelni tehnologii” in Bulgaria and Eva from Osnovna škola Jagodnjak in Croatia. We prepared the common ground for the week by brainstorming and defining the meaning behind the terms 'green skills' and 'sustainability', trying to understand why they are so important in today's world. Then, we dedicated a session to the phenomenon of greenwashing: it was eye-opening to see how widespread this trend is and went on with our own detective work on brands in their home countries, trying to compare ethical companies with "greenwashed" ones. In the course progress, we then planted our seeds by delving into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and engaging in reading sessions and lively discussions. Each participant had the opportunity to explore and analyze the goals individually, gaining a deeper understanding of the specific targets and indicators outlined within each goal. Seeing the knowledge-plants grow, we didn't just sit and listen; we got our hands activated and our minds working with interactive activities and games. These experiences helped us reflect on our own needs, wants, lifestyle choices, and habits. From simple everyday actions to larger lifestyle choices, we learned that every decision counts in the growth process of becoming greener individuals. We didn't just stick to the classroom; we took our learning outside to a nearby park, immersing ourselves in nature and exploring ways to experiece the outdoors in our education process. To let our green skills become a fully developed plant, we trained our critical thinking skills and discovered the power of Project-Based Learning (PBL) in fostering green skills. Through problem-solving activities and real-world case studies, we learned to analyse complex environmental issues from multiple perspectives and develop innovative solutions. PBL provided a framework for collaborative learning and hands-on exploration, empowering us to approach environmental challenges with creativity and resilience. When we look back on the course, we leave with a blossoming bouquet of new knowledge and a smile on our face.
If you want to learn more about this great workshop, check out here. |
Welcome to the ELA Blog. Here you will find articles and photos of our courses and have a look at the topics addressed during the week in Bologna, Palermo and Tenerife. You will also have the chance to take a peek at our projects and check out what we have been up to.
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