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Τετάρτη 21 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022
Τρίτη 13 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022
PARTICIPATION IN ERASMUS+ SEMINAR IN HELSINKI ''LEARNING AND ACTING FOR A BETTER FUTURE'' 8-13 AUGUST
You may see an e-book about this, here.
In the framework of the implementation of the Erasmus+ KA1 program, "Climate Change, Refugees and Immigrants" (approval number from the State Scholarship Foundation 2020-1-EL01-KA104-078696), implemented with the partnership of the Ecological Initiative of Chania and the Environmental Education Centers of Vamos and Anogeia, the Head of the Education Center for the Environment and Sustainability of Vamos , Fotis Pontikakis, participated in an Erasmus+ Seminar in Helsinki, Finland from 8-13 August, 2022.The topic of the Seminar was "Environmental Education: Learning and acting for a better future".
The organizer
of the Seminar was Europass Teacher Academy, which organizes such seminars in
27 regions with over 12,000 participants every year.
The
objectives of the Seminar were:
• To
prepare teachers for the educational challenges posed by environmental
degradation and sustainability and to fill relevant knowledge gaps.
• To enable
teachers to communicate with their colleagues from other countries about
environmental issues.
• To
highlight the importance of teaching these subjects to young people.
• To make
the members of the educational community more environmentally friendly.
• To
present ways to engage young people in actions concerning sustainability and
the environment.
• To promote practical steps and measures that can be taken to make a school plastic free.
·
At the
beginning of the Seminar there were presentations of the participants and their
schools, and also of the Finnish education system which is considered one of
the best in the world. Other parts of the seminar included:
• A workshop
using Lego blocks in groups to visualize environmental problems and their
possible solutions.
•
Presentation and discussion about ''Fast Fashion'', the endless changes in fashion
that result in a waste of natural resources and money.
• Workshops
of Positive Pedagogy techniques, with the aim of not focusing only on the
problems, but drawing hope for action
and solutions to the problems from positive experiences .
•
Presentation of UNESCO's 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
•
Discussion of the ‘’Green washing’’ phenomenon, the advertising and promotion
of various corporate practices and activities as "green" without
proof, through vagueness and irrelevant references.
•
Discussion about learning through Problem Solving and also about Phenomenon
Learning (Learning through Phenomena/Experience).
• Technical
workshops such as ‘’ Debate’’ and «Six hats" on how to solve a problem
with a multifaceted examination.
• Various
pedagogical techniques and methods were presented and used, such as Cooperative
Learning,’’ Think-Pair-Share’’ technique, etc.
• In
addition, there was an extensive discussion about the Eco Anxiety that is
present in today's youth who are experiencing the intensifying ecological
crisis and ideas and techniques of Positive Pedagogy were presented to deal
with it through positive actions.
The two
guided tours organized as part of the Seminar were particularly interesting,
one in the center of the city of Helsinki which helped us get to know the city,
its monuments and its history, and the other to the islet of Seurasaari, which
is located on the city outskirts and is accessible by bus, followed by a wooden bridge crossing. This islet is an
open museum surrounded by greenery, with squirrels roaming around and dozens of
wooden traditional rural houses preserved as they were 100 years ago (see also
related video).
It is also worth mentioning the impressive modern central public library OODI, in the center of Helsinki, a cultural jewel that also shows the importance that Finland gives to culture and education (see a short related video). This library includes areas for isolation and study for individuals and groups, special areas for children, recording studios and video games for young people, etc.
Finally, a
lesson plan on waste was created as part of the Seminar:
LESSON PLAN
FOR WASTE
A) PURPOSE:
The purpose of this lesson plan is to inform the learners and make them aware
of the issue of waste.
B) TIME
REQUIRED: 10-12 teaching periods (1 teaching period per week).
C) LEARNING
OUTCOMES:
a)
Knowledge about the waste problem and possible solutions,
b) Problem
analysis skills, ability to recycle and reduce waste,
c)
Attitudes: Interest in the environment and willingness to take action by
reducing litter, reusing things and recycling.
D) COLLABORATION
a) Voluntary group of teachers and trainees,
b) School administration,
c) Parents,
d) Waste management unit,
e) local environmental Non-Governmental Organization
E) METHODOLOGY: Project method, problem solving method, theater game and puppet show, exploratory method
F) DEVELOPMENT STEPS / SCHEDULE
1. Initial discussion between teachers and learners – Decide on the topic
2. Definition of individual topics (sub-topics) related and creation of working groups (eg paper, organics, aluminum, soft drink cans).
3. Group planning and research – Visit to a local waste management facility, environmental NGO visit to school and discussion, paper recycling workshops, creating dolls from reusable materials.
4. Critically analyze in each group the findings and the information gathered. Creation of bins for material recycling in school premises.
5. Preparation of each group for presentation with theatrical game, puppet show, music, Powerpoint, video, comics, posters, etc.
6. Presentation in plenary or in a public event of the results of the groups' research. Discussion and evaluation of experience, feedback.
Παρασκευή 2 Σεπτεμβρίου 2022
Participation in the Erasmus+ Seminar "Cultural Heritage and Storytelling Education" in Padua, 12-16 July 2022
In the framework of the implementation of the Erasmus+ KA1 program, "Climate Change, refugees and immigrants" (approval number from the State Scholarship Foundation 2020-1-EL01-KA104-078696), the educators Konstantina Papadogiannaki, teacher, deputy head of ECV and Eleni Despotidou, architect, member of the Pedagogical Team, from the Environmental Education Center of Vamos, participated in a multi-day seminar entitled "Cultural heritage and storytelling education" in Padua, Italy from July 12th to 16th 2022.
Educators and adult trainers from Poland, Spain, Germany, the Basque Country, Hungary and Greece participated in the seminar.
The pedagogical methodology of the program was based on the combination of formal and non-formal education aiming at stimulating active participation, proactiveness, interaction and creative use of the material by all participants, while reinforcing a clear European dimension. In doing so, the goal was to create a varied and stimulating environment for reflection, work and learning. This methodology is characterized by a set of different features and tools, such as:
• appropriate balance of theory and practice
• team building and teamwork
• best practice case studies
• innovative, relevant and factual content
• horizontal and practical approach
• digital tools
• blended learning
• project based work
• practical workshop
• brainstorming
• role game
• self-assessment and group assessment.
The objectives set by this particular seminar were very interesting and coincided with those of the Pedagogical Team of the Environmental Center of Vamos for updating and enriching their resources in terms of ideas, modern strategies and tools for the development of educational programs that will aim at the inclusion of all populations and ethnicities:
1. Exploring heritage education in the context of collaborative learning, blended learning and flipped classroom.
2. Acquiring non-formal education methods and tools to promote students' exploration, study and representation of cultural heritage and the basic skill of cultural awareness and expression.
3. Promoting diverse creative languages and improving the use of ICT and digital tools for storytelling and heritage education.
4. Stimulating reflection and innovative ideas for a sustainable education in cultural heritage, in the "European Year of Cultural Heritage 2018".
