Making a change by incorporating green skills in class

We are currently living in a critical moment in history, where the issues of climate change and environmental sustainability can no longer be ignored. Since the future generations will face the consequences of our environmental actions, it's crucial for educators to find ways to include these topics into their classes. Furthermore, it's essential to approach these discussions in a way that encourages hope and the possibility of positive change, rather than a sense of despair.

​This new course “Green skills for education: promoting environmental awareness and sustainable actions in the classroom”, took place in Palermo from 09/02/2025 to 15/02/2025, with 7 participants from 3 different countries: Suzana Mihelcic, Marijana Zarozinski and Marta Zivatovic from Industrijsko-obrtnickaskolaSlavonskiBrod in Croatia, Mignon Bellato and Vian Liu from Hans-Leipelt School FOS/BOS in Germany and Miguel Sánchez Ruiz and Manuel Didac Carretero González from IES San José in Spain.

​At the start of the week, we focused on what are known as Green Skills and their importance in today's society. On the first day, our goal was to reflect on the terms that make up the green vocabulary, which included a discussion on Sustainability and sustainable development. The next day, we talked about the topic of Greenwashing, giving participants the opportunity to research brands from their own countries and distinguish between genuine sustainable products and those falsely marketed as "green".

​Another main topic of the week was the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).The 7 goals that are related to environmental sustainability were discussed in groups, which led the participants to the learning that every activity, game or theoretical topic of the course was specifically related to different SDGs. 

​During the course the participants gained experience in making a difference through small, impactful actions, while also exploring ways to engage both young students and adults in sustainable development. The activities they took part in provided an opportunity to reflect on issues such as global warming, carbon footprints, tipping points, consumerism, and other factors related to climate change.

​Two days of the course were dedicated to talking about climate change in a non-formal way. In particular the participants spent time outdoors in order to learn about activities and methods that foster a greater love for nature in their students and encourage creativity and engagement. Moreover, the teachers discovered Project Based Learning as a tool that can help them promote a greener mindset.

​A significant aspect of the course was finding a way that teachers can create more engagement while also reducing waste, which can be achieved by the use of ICT tools to enrich the activities. In this way classes can support our daily green practices.

​Finally, one of the most valuable aspects of this course was the sharing of best practices. It gave participants the opportunity to share their own sustainability experiences and draw inspiration from projects and activities implemented by their colleagues. We’re happy that our participants left Palermo with big smiles, a lot of new knowledge, and hearts full of meaningful experiences!

Discover more about this course in: https://www.erasmustrainingcourses.com/green-skills.html
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