Tuesday, October 15, 2024

YOUNG ECO INSPECTORS

People worldwide are increasingly concerned about air and water pollution and the threat it poses to their health and welfare. They are increasingly seeking factual information about environmental pollution in their living areas. Also the community members are increasingly insisting towards local authorities on action to bring it under control. Taking this into account, it may seem as though the public is already sufficiently aware of the threat of air pollution for the inhabitants health and sufficiently involved in efforts to bring it under control. This is simply not true. Nor is the true that needs for education programs are already being adequately met, especially on influence of water pollution of eco systems from local rivers up to the oceans. The need for such programs is greater now than ever before and, will inevitably be even greater in years to come.
The project supports new curricula based on implementation of the multidisciplinary activity-based environmental educational concept, that includes using of technology, field activities (“in life” data collection), software applications for presentation of acquired results, conducting of data analysis, development of critical thinking and finding the best environment-friendly solutions. By implementing of planned activities, project will enable increasing of teamwork skills and competences as well as behavioral changes of involved young population (secondary school students), to become true actors of change – future active citizens ready to accept, implement and promote sustainable environmental solutions by active engagement in local community. The project is focused on Urban air and water pollution challenge, but the measures/actions that must be taken in tackling of this challenge (energy efficiency, utilization of renewable energy sources sustainable urban transportation, etc.) are also the main actions and measures that community must urgently implement in their efforts in facing of the largest challenge of human kind – Climate Change.
By implementing of new curricula, the project promote the STEM approach to education through interdisciplinary teaching in environmental context. Secondary schools STEM teachers (mathematics, chemistry, informatics, physics, biology ….) will get an increased skills and competences and will develop an own educational approaches in adoption of environmental issues from high importance for the community (like local air / water pollution) in STEM school classes. The project activities includes development and promotion of effective (activity-based) and innovative pedagogies (using of “state of the art” equipment and software), development of assessment methods (by fostering of critical thinking on environmental issues) and promotion of students’ teamwork (on finding the best solutions in tackling of air and water pollution), as well as high communication level (with public presentation of the students teams’ achievements on displays in central city areas).
The project is foreseeing a partnership between educational institutions (secondary schools), local self-governments, regional energy agencies as well as local expertise from public body (public utility) combined with active involvement of representatives from civil sector (NGOs), which is particularly valuable in the context for development of efficient and sustainable approach in tacking the highly important local environment challenges. In addition to all mentioned above, by using of OER and eTwinning networking module, trained secondary schools’ STEM teachers will got an increased digital skills and competences as well as improved skills for transnational cooperation with their colleagues from other European countries.
 
Project in brief:
 
Project main objective, is development, implementation and promotion of the Activity- based educational concept for secondary school students in tackling of environmental challenges that communities in regions of Pazardzhik – Bulgaria, Kochani – North Macedonia and Larissa – Greece are facing.
The project offers an interdisciplinary educational approach suitable for any topics from community interest, with high transferability potential for implementation in any educational institution.
The following activities will be implemented in the frame of the project lifetime:
1. Project Management and Implementation activities
2. 3 Trainings events, 1 long-term Teaching/learning event and 1 blended mobility event
3. 3 Executive/Operational meetings & working sessions
4. Activities related with creation of 4 Project Intellectual Outputs/Results
5. Communication/Promotion activities
 
Expected project’s outcomes/results are:

 

– Four IOs created
– Successfully implemented “Activity-based” educational concept in three secondary schools
– Established teachers network on eTwinning platform (with min 42 STEM teachers from 3 secondary schools)
– Minimum 72 students with increased skills for team work, implementation of critical thinking as well as competences in successful performance of researching and finding the best solutions on environmental challenges from community interest

 
More about the project can be found HERE