GEOPARKS: OPEN AIR LABORATORIES Erasmus Project

Project Title

GEOPARKS: OPEN AIR LABORATORIES

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: Social/environmental responsibility of educational institutions; Environment and climate change; Natural sciences

Project Summary

A geopark is an open-air laboratory in which pupils, students and geo-tourists can discover and get familiar with the geological features. There are many opportunities to visit the Geopark area and get to know its rich geological heritage. A landscape is designated a geopark if it has a geological, archaeological, cultural, historical and ecological heritage of particular significance, rarity or beauty.

There are currently 147 UNESCO Global Geoparks and 276 National Geoparks in the Asia Pacific and Europe. Geoparks empower local communities and give them the opportunity to develop cohesive partnerships with the common goal of promoting the area’s significant geological processes, features, periods of time, historical themes linked to geology, or outstanding geological beauty. Geoparks are established through a bottom-up process involving all relevant local and regional stakeholders and authorities in the area. The main work is on the educational institution’s responsibilities. We aim to move together on the global issue to raise awareness about Geoparks sustainability and awareness.

We all dealing to be eco-friendly schools by serving targets of EU2020. Climate change and energy is a core topic of the EU 2020 strategy target:
-greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990 levels
-20% of energy coming from renewables
-20% increase in energy efficiency
In the line of EU 2020, the main aims of the project “GOAL” are:
1-to help students to focus on issues relating to the natural environment (climate change, Renewable Energy, recycling)
2-to work with Geoparks to find solutions to environmental problems
3-to find solutions to global problems with educational curriculums
4-to exchange the good practices/experiences for being Eco-friendly Geoschools
5-to provide our students gain critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making skills
6-to learn different teaching methods of geology from experienced geoscientist, experts, geopark employees
7-to increase the academic achievements of the students in STEM lessons via Geoparks

We are 6 countries involved in the project: Hungary, Croatia, Turkey, Spain, Romania, Italy. With the project (Geoparks as Open Air Laboratoriteries -GOAL) we are planning 6 LTT activities: with pupils(11-15 years old) and 2 teachers from each partner countries. The first 4 LTT activities will be with 4 pupils others with 5 pupils from each country. 20 students with disadvantages will take part in the 6 LTT activities.
1st LTT will be on Hungary (Újlaki Általános Iskola )
2nd LTT will be on Turkey(Mersinli Şehit Ahmet Uludağ Ortaokulu)
3rd LTT will be on Croatia(Osnovna Skola Jabukovac)
4th LTT will be on Romania(Scoala Gimnaziala Radu Tudoran)
5th LTT will be on Spain(C.E.I.P. Lapachar)
6th LTT will be on Italy(IC 21 Marzo)

During the mobilities at Unesco Geoparks, we will use experimental and project based-learning methods. We will observe flora, fauna, fossils, minerals, nature of Novahrad, Papuk, Hateg, Kula, Madoine, Sierra Norte de Sevilla Unesco Geoparks. Some sessions will be actualized in science labs and others at geopark areas with geologists, palaeontologists, experts. Teamworks and workshops will be organized on Dinosaurs fossils, minerals, orogenesis etc.

We plan to make studies that are trying to produce solutions to ecological and environmental problems using Geoparks. Each of these problems involves using geo-parks with project-based learning methodology for covering areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths). The partnership will produce a number of end products as:
-Project Blog/FB page/FB group
-School Geopark Clubs and Teams
-E-guide of 6 Geoparks
-Twinning project and events
-Project Logo&motto
-Promotional products
-Sets of lesson plans
-booklet/brochures

Versatile Contributions of the GOAL project aspected in short and long-term for our schools. In the long term, for our schools, this project will contribute
-increasing the usage rate of the Geopark & geology activities at school curricula
-Raising awareness of environmental issues and boosting Geoparks as Open Air Laboratories
-integrating Geoparks through teaching Ecological and environmental subjects into all lectures
-increasing the projects on the theme of global environmental challenges and climate change
-developing environmental issues included projects that will be beneficial to the environment and nature

Schools will learn good practices about geo-challenges from the different education systems to be GEO-SCHOOLS. They will have an increase in the rate of Geopark and environmental projects. (1st year 3%, 2nd year 5%) and give more effective schoolteaching via Geosciences. Teachers will be able to help to make the planet greener via Geopark Awareness Activities. By the project students and teachers be aware of the importance of protection Geoparks because of their values. The project will serve for students providing outdoor laboratories for formal, traditional education and researches.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 175380 Eur

Project Coordinator

Újlaki Általános Iskola & Country: HU

Project Partners

• Osnovna skola Jabukovac – Zagreb
• C.E.I.P. Lapachar
• Mersinli Sehit Ahmet Uludag Ortaokulu
• Scoala Gimnaziala Radu Tudoran
• I.C. “F. P. Polizzano” Gangi