ECO-SCHOOL
ECOLOGY EDUCATION COURSE FOR TEACHERS
AND EDUCATORS
Description and main aims
Draft proposed program
Nobody can say that a school is not ecological. Maybe buildings and working environments are not yet built with the new "ecological and environmental friendly" criteria and many schools are still in old places, not surrounded by any green spaces. There are schools in big cities, in Capitals of Europe, in medium cities, in small towns, in rural areas. What does it mean to be an ecological person in general? Does it mean to know scientifically what happens between nature and human beings, what is happening in the world nowadays and how not to contribute with our lifestyles to destroy the environment where we are living? Just these questions need a long debate to be answered and, at the base of every debate, there's still something we continue to underestimate: the need for more education. Which we can call "ecology", "environmental education", "education to sustainable education".
Teachers and new generations are already environmental friendly especially from 2019 and 2020 when the influence of Greta Thunberg has shaken all our conscious, in the bad and in the good, calling us to the fact that - even though the debate between scientists, ecologists and other stakeholders - is still not clear to whom we have to believe - each one of us can do something daily to save the planet. What is true is that we don't have a planet B. Schools are the first place where kids are educated to be good citizens in the future and to realise their dreams in life. The idea of this course is very recent (2020) and it's transversal for purpose. Ecology, environmental friendly, recycling and reusing, the sustainable development goals 2030, EU Climate Action...these are all key topics under the "ECO-SCHOOL" course.
It's not true that just science or geography teachers are the ones in charge to teach ecology. All teachers, from language teachers to subject teachers, and especially School Directors, are in charge to teach "more ecologically" or introduce the "green transversal subject" into their teaching method and teaching contents.
This course is based on sharing and discovering together among educators and teachers, creating a common base of understanding, knowledge and terms in order to change the classical methodology used at school, more formal and static, and making it more outdoor, non formal and innovative.
The topic of ecology enters in each subject through concrete new lesson plans which cross the actual trendy methods used among European teachers and is also foreseen the use of technologies as a tool to create a bridge between a new and original contact with nature and the reality of a digital life which is part of us already.
Target group
Teachers can be any kind of teacher working in a public or private school or educational institutions.
Like all our programs, the present one is flexible and adaptable to special requests, depending on the subject taught or on the starting level of the participant.
Furthermore, in line with the JUMP Academy method, our courses are based on a strategic balance between formal and non-formal education, indoor and outdoor education and the team takes care of a very important aspect of international mobility which is the intercultural learning which we develop with short excursions and facilitating the interaction with local partners, especially schools of the territory.
We always try to connect our learners to local teachers and students to cooperate in developing innovation and networking for future projects. If possible, inside the program, a morning is spent inside a local school, visiting, observing, and cooperating in the realization of one or more lessons. The proposed program JUMP works, in European dimension and with an international spirit, at the local level and, according to the period of the training along the year and the weather, it is possible to change some sessions and add visits and meetings, in cooperation with our network of partners including schools involved in European projects).
PLAN YOUR SESSION
JUMP organises a training every month of the year excluded in the Christmas period.
If you're a writing a KA1 project, please, plan the most suitable period for you and your team starting from the 1 of July every year and then, when you will know if your project is approved, we will write each other and we will confirm dates and sessions planning together. If you prefer to write and you need a formal confirmation, please write to associazionejump@gmail.com
Training modules
1) Module 1: EU policies and trends in education
2) Module 2: Outdoor, ecology and environmental education, differences and similarities
3) Module 3: ECO-SCHOOL, a concept, a structure, what do we mean? The networks
4) Module 4: Practices around the world of Eco-schooling
5) Module 5: European and global challenges. A new political framework to follow
6) Module 6: Design my own learning and teaching pathway
Program
Sunday: arrival of participants, welcoming JUMP organizers, if possible depending on arrival time, first social dinner (in general a pizza!)
Starting the program. To be underlined: JUMP has a brand new "Outdoor space" (outdoor training room under a wood structure in the backyard of Villa Gabriella International, surrounded by a garden and with space also to bake bread and pizza.
Monday: 09:30 - 10:30 first briefing by organizers, presentation of the team, logistics of the local context, program overview and changes + proposal for night activities.
10:30 - 12:30 Outdoor city game "Mission Impossible" in Soverato.
12:30 - 15:00 Lunch break
15:00 - 17:30 afternoon session. Module 1: EU policies and trends in education. Working on EU policies for teachers - Europe 2020 and the key competences for the Lifelong Learning - Sharing K1 projects and practices among present teachers. What's the general opinion on the main topic "Ecology, environmental education, green school, eco-schools, etc". Examples I know, the person I am, the teacher I am.
Tuesday: 09:30 - 12:30 Module 2: Outdoor, ecology and environmental education, differences and similarities: Ecology in education, environmental education, outdoor education, climate change, and trends in education about this topic. Sharing knowledge and practices among the present and trainer presentations about researches and methods.
Lunch break. Afternoon session 15:00 - 17:00: Module 3: ECO-SCHOOL, a concept, a structure, what do we mean? The networks: teachers planning together innovative lessons to introduce the topic of "ecology in education" in their schools (depending on the level of teachers and on the subjects they teach, JUMP plans to make a concrete practice directly in a local school with teachers and children)
Wednesday: 09:30 - 12:30 Module 4: Practices around the world of Eco-schooling: moving to a local school. Visit the school. Meeting teachers, understanding the Italian educational system. Italy was distinguished in 2019 for the big participation in the "Fridays for future" proposed by Greta Thunberg in the world and many many ecological projects raised up. How schools in Calabria are doing.
During this morning 2 concrete outdoor lessons on ecology crossing subjects can be done - led by the JUMP trainer and Erasmus teachers can observe or better, co-conduct the lesson.
Lunch break. Afternoon session 15:00 - 17:00: Debriefing on the experience of the morning. Midterm evaluation. JUMP trainer shows more materials on "innovative lessons" on the topics, tools, manuals, and already existing materials.
Thursday: the first part of the morning at school. Meeting again teachers and students, asking for their feedback. Continuation of "teaching more ecological improving English". Erasmus teachers participate and get new ideas from students.
The second part of the morning. Coming back to Villa Gabriella Outdoor space. Working on "my teaching and learning pathway. My school is more ecological. My eco-school". How to improve, how to establish new cooperation among teachers. The trainer helps and facilitates the workshop. Teachers work in small teams.
Lunch break. Afternoon session: debriefing on the workshop: results and ideas for future dissemination and cooperation among teachers.
Following. Outdoor team building walks to Soverato Superiore. Visit the old church and the art of the old village. Visit the botanical garden.
Friday: 9:00 - 11:00 Continuation of the workshop with more materials and support by the trainer. Free time to go to the local intercultural green market of Soverato.
Friday afternoon. Socialization excursion in Calabria with C.T.E. team
Saturday morning. Partnership building activity and final evaluation. Europass as a tool to assess the course, the experience, and competencies acquired. Delivery of admin documents and group pictures.
Saturday afternoon, free time. Final dinner among participants to say Goodbye to Soverato.
Sunday: departure of participants.
Certification and number of days
JUMP certifies or 36 hours for 6 days course (6*6) or more if needed adding extra hours per day. Or 30 hours for a 5 days course (6*5).
The course can be also extended to a 2 weeks course with the options 10 days or 12 days course if asked and agreed, depending on the project of the sending organization.
10 days are excluded the weekend (5+5), 12 days are from Monday to Saturday morning (6+6).
At the end of the training, JUMP delivers a formal certificate of attendance and the team is at disposal to fill the Europass certification document according to the EU model template and other needed documents for reporting of the sending institution.
Costs: the cost is fully covered by the Erasmus grant. Write to info@associazionejump.it to ask for information on costs and the services provided to plan your mobility project in Soverato with JUMP.