Geoparks as an Educational Points Erasmus Project

Project Title

Geoparks as an Educational Points

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : School Exchange Partnerships

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2020

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; Natural sciences

Project Summary

Geoparks refer to the arrangement of natural areas where geological, geomorphological, biological and cultural heritage elements are rare, aesthetically, scientifically and economically valuable for educational, tourism and economic purposes. Conservation and sustainability are very important in these areas. Although it is not known, it is a phenomenon that is tried to be created all over the world because of the awareness of education and protection and economic development thanks to Geoparks.

The most effective education to introduce the world to society in every way and to create awareness of nature protection is the education given in nature itself. That’s why geopark training is so important. Conservation awareness is the basis of the continuity of natural life. If we want to transfer what we have to future generations, we must start by protecting them first. If we want to transfer what we have to future generations, we must start by protecting them first. All structures (fossil, rock, mineral and morphological formations) that describe the processes from the formation of the earth crust to the present day are the products of long geological times. If these structures that belong to all humanity are lost, they cannot be reproduced. In order for the next generations to understand, recognize and learn about the nature they live in, the material at hand must be the nature itself. At this point, Jeapark education to inclusion&protection motivated Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Romania, Greece, Turkey to meet as 6 schools.

Our partnership, which started with an eTwinning project, was crowned with this Erasmus + project, in order to increase the awareness of the Geoparks in our countries and to develop a project to integrate it into our education curriculum. Because climate change and global warming threatening our world require awareness of collective action in the international arena.  In this project, some training and research activities will take place in UNESCO GEOPARK areas.

With our project, our students will get closer to nature and get first-hand learning in its magical world upon the inclusion of losses on nature, the sustainability of Geoparks and education. So we aim to
1-increase social awareness about the protection and sustainability of Geoparks
2-ensure the establishment of Geopark Clubs in Schools
3-ensure that geography, geology and natural sciences are preferred by our students.
4-observe the environment in the geopark areas, the value it adds to that region, the importance of its geological heritage in history and society with our students.
5-teach students on-site by observing the geological and aesthetic areas, lava caves, beautiful waterfalls, spas, fairy chimneys and rock formations in the Geoparks.

As 6 different countries,we plan to offer solutions to environmental and global problems by focusing on geodiversity, geo-heritage, geo-protection, geoproducts, geomorphology, geoparks, European Geopark Network, Universal Geopark network. Our projects will last for 24 months. The 6 LTT activities are:
C1: Kula-Salihli Geopark Activities
C2: Lesvos Geopark Activities
C3: Azuros Geopark Activities
C4: Hateg Dinosaurs Geopark Activities
C5: Papuk Geopark Activities
C6: El Hierro Geopark Activities

C1 will be with 3 teachers from each partner. Other LTTs will be with 4 students(11-15 y.o) and 2 teachers (Geography, science, biology or earth sciences) from each partner. A total of 15 disadvantaged students will also benefit from LTT activities. Our geopark activities in Turkey, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Romania and Greece will allow us to achieve our objective mentioned above. All our activities are in harmony with our goals. All local, national and international activities that we plan and design will enable us to achieve the main goals in the timeline of our project, in the follow-up and dissemination stages.

METHODOLOGY: Project-based&experiential learning methods will be used in our project. Our students will participate in teamwork, make presentations, conduct experiments, make observations in nature, participate in various activities with the help of geologists, experts, take responsibility and learn to learn.

CONCRETE OUTPUTS
-Banner /logo
-Public Report
-eTwinning Project
-e-Booklet
-e-Magazine
-Learning blogs
-Geopark Awareness Video
-Evaluation Test Statistics
-School Geopark Clubs and Units
-Geopark Activity and lesson plans
-Web Page, youtube channel, FB page and Erasmus Corner
-Workshops on Dinosaurs, minerals, Fauna, Flora etc.

With our project, lesson plans will be developed to make the Geoparks a training point for students. It will encourage students to participate in nature conservation and will ensure the establishment of Jeopark clubs and units in the surrounding schools. Our students will focus on geology and natural sciences in their choice of profession. Thanks to the use of Geoparks as Educational Points, our students will gain awareness of Geoparks

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 196695 Eur

Project Coordinator

Mersinli Sehit Ahmet Uludag Ortaokulu & Country: TR

Project Partners

• Osnovna škola Ivana Filipovića
• Daily Junior High School of Petra of Lesvos
• Escola Básica e Secundária da Calheta
• IES SAN NICOLÁS
• Colegiul National Tudor Vladimirescu