3 Paths towards Teaching Sustainability

Course Description

This course offers participants the opportunity to acquire hands-on practices and techniques on sustainability. The primary focus will be on how to support leading a sustainable lifestyle by co-creation methods.

This course is designed for every level of teachers, as the main focus touches upon climate crisis effects on biomes, theoretical information transformation to local actions, joining and creating citizen science. The planned activities also include the promotion of sustainability through community building.

Objectives

Receiving information on actual climate crisis effects explored in nature. The topics to be covered will be centered around climate change effects on forests, wildlife, peatlands and water habitats.
In this part we aim to generate a common understanding within the group; at the same time, we intend to initiate the creation of group co-working dynamics.
Exposing the social dimension of the above mentioned topics. By doing so, the group will identify the global answers provided on environmental changes and threats to date.
In this part we intend to demonstrate the difference between frontal teaching and co-creation learning methods. At the end of each session, participants will be provided with thorough explanations on the methodology of engagement techniques.
Promoting methods of local actions through in and out of school projects. Participants will focus on the practical implementation of citizen science, and community based actions already aiming at adult awareness of nature protection such as community gardens, the effective exploitation of green infrastructure, and the enhancement of biodiversity through microprojects.
In this part, we provide support to participants to create their own sustainability action plans suited to their immediate environment and community.

Target Group

This course is designed for educators of all levels as well as individuals interested in learning and teaching sustainable ways of living in alternative ways incorporating 21st century and life skills.

Learning Outcomes

Comprehensive Understanding of Climate Crisis Effects: Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the climate crisis effects on biomes, specifically focusing on forests, wildlife, peatlands, and water habitats. This understanding will serve as a foundational element for informed discussions and collaborative efforts towards sustainability.
Awareness of Global Responses: Participants will identify and discuss global responses to environmental changes and threats, emphasizing the social dimension of sustainability challenges.
Practical Implementation of Citizen Science: Participants will focus on the practical application of citizen science and community-based actions, such as community gardens, green infrastructure exploitation, and biodiversity enhancement through microprojects. This hands-on experience will empower participants to promote sustainability through tangible, local projects.
Group Co-Working Dynamics: Through the exploration of climate crisis effects, participants will collaboratively generate a common understanding within the group. The course aims to initiate and foster group co-working dynamics, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts in addressing sustainability challenges.
Engagement Techniques and Co-Creation Learning Methods: The course will equip participants with a variety of engagement techniques and co-creation learning methods. At the end of each session, participants will receive thorough explanations of these methodologies, enhancing their ability to incorporate these methods into their teaching practices.
Creation of Sustainability Action Plans: Participants will be supported in creating their own sustainability action plans tailored to their immediate environment and community. This outcome aims to empower educators and individuals to implement practical, impactful initiatives promoting sustainable living.
Integration of 21st Century and Life Skills: The course is designed to incorporate 21st-century skills and life skills into sustainable teaching and learning practices. Participants will develop competencies that align with contemporary educational needs and foster a holistic approach to sustainability.
Diverse Educator Audience: Tailored for educators of all levels and individuals interested in sustainable living and teaching, the course ensures a diverse audience can benefit from the content, fostering a community of practitioners committed to promoting sustainable ways of living.
Present a personal mini research project following the SPRE stages to be at the on-site dissemination activity, gaining evaluation and further ideas to personal puzzles. Hear the peers’ evaluation, and also their presentations, and reflect on them.

Learning programme and tasks

Day 1	Introduction to sustainability: its theoretical background
	Searching for information on actual climate crisis effects explored in nature; climate change effects Presentations of participants’ professional background Shortlisting the focus areas of the presented sending institutions’ sustainability action plans Cooperative session: Gamification Generating a common understanding within the group (icebreaker, warm up activities in practice; how to initiate the creation of group co-working) Cocreation of the vision and mission of sustainability action plans (involvement techniques for prospective sustainability teams)
Day 2 Day 3 Day 4	Field visits as students (Day 2), teachers (Day 3) and stakeholders (Day 4)
	Main objective of Day 2: sustainability actions and potentials as students Natural resource topic of the day: forests and trees; climate change effects on forest management, wood industry and global policy Pedagogical topic of the day: demonstrating the difference between frontal and cocreational educational settings Main objective of Day 3: sustainability actions and potentials as teachers Natural resource topic of the day: urban green; citizen science; promoting methods of local actions Pedagogical topic of the day: awareness Main objective of Day 4: sustainability actions and potentials as stakeholders (how to influence society beyond school) Natural resource topic of the day: oceans; exposing the social dimension of global threats Pedagogical topic of the day: negotiation
Day 5	Feedback on field visit sessions
	Indoor activity: feedback on field visit sessions; elaboration of sustainability action plans based on the experiences of previous days (using different kinds of cocreational methods)
Day 6	Presentation of personal mini research project
	Presentation of a personal mini research project to peers following the SPRE stages at the on-site dissemination Reflections on the key takeaways from the training Providing resources and support for ongoing professional development

Language level:	English B1 and above*
Locations:	Budapest (Hungary), Pula (Croatia), Révfülöp – Lake Balaton (Hungary)
Time:	9 AM to 2:30 PM daily (extracurricular activities outside of learning activities).
Dates:	2-7 April 2024 in Budapest (6 days, 30 lessons) 22-27 July 2024, 29 July – 3 August 2024, and 5-10 August 2024 in Pula (6 days, 30 lessons) 1-6 July 2024 and 8-13 July 2024 in Révfülöp – Lake Balaton (6 days, 30 lessons)
Price:	€510, including extracurricular cultural activities and welcome dinner

*The language of the course is English, linguistic aid may be provided for speakers of Hungarian with lower language abilities

The course complies with all rules as set in the Quality Standards of the Erasmus+ program. Extracurricular activities are in addition to the lessons, and study groups are international. Note: should the latter condition not be met, participants will be informed 40 days in advance.

Payment facilities: participants with funding from the actual year’s project budget may ask to request a deposit of EUR 100 to guarantee their places on the course and pay the rest of the fees later.

It is possible to take part in 2 consecutive courses, please book both separately. A price reduction of 15% will be applied.