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.

You can watch a relevant video 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 Seminar in Helsinki was attended by Primary and Secondary teachers from eight countries in total: Spain, France, Italy, Hungary, Bulgaria, Greece and Romania. The presenter was the Finnish teacher Mia Torttila.

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.