Bringing Research Into the Classroom: a Key to Sustainability Erasmus Project

Project Title

Bringing Research Into the Classroom: a Key to Sustainability

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 2019

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Environment and climate change; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Civic engagement / responsible citizenship

Project Summary

The project BRICKS aims at arming students with the necessary skills to be future responsible citizens and contribute to the achievement of the goals of Europe 2020 strategy and Agenda 2030 about sustainability and climate action.
We strongly believe that Citizen Science and Active Citizenship are the key to address three very important problems in Europe:
-the impact of climate change which is likely to increase the severity and frequency of weather-related hazards with negative consequences on our areas and our natural and cultural heritage;
-the well documented Europe’s shortage of STEM skilled labour force and the gender inequality in STEM field;
– the young people’s disaffection with the participation in democratic life in Europe.
Our objective is that our students develop competencies focusing sharply on more complex social issues, such as the links between environmental quality, human equality, human rights and peace and on the effects of climate change on our areas and our natural and cultural heritage, facing the problems locally in collaboration with University and Research Institutions and involving our communities and NGOs. This collaboration will allow:
– students to learn the research method, to increase motivation and interest in science, to improve provision and assessment of basic and transversal skills, particularly: entrepreneurship, social, civic, intercultural and language competences, critical thinking, digital skills and media literacy;
– teachers and students to be trained about the cutting edge technologies and digital technologies and research with improved use of European reference tools for recognition, validation and transparency of competences and qualifications;
– researchers to have help in gathering and analyze data, to recognize and foster excellence, to benefit of much needed new talent in its various fields,
– communities to benefit because of the promotion of ethical value, active citizenship and solution of local issues
The project is aimed at students within the age range of 14-18 years and the methodologie used will be project based learning, challenge based learning, involving student-centred pedagogical and innovative approaches with a strong use of digital technologies and web tools.
Plan:
– develop and reinforce our network with National Institutes of Geophysics, Environmental Science, local authorities, local ‘green jobs’ companies and NGOs which will play the role of consultants and active partners, The goal is to have an effective partnership to face the challenges of Expo 2020 about sustainability and opportunity.
– produce research and essays on the impact of climate change on our areas and on our natural and cultural heritage; identify an area that must be protected in each Country and possible strategies for its protection in collaboration with Universities and local stakeholders ;
-introduce and experiment new path in curricula and in different subjects, organize online lectures and e-lessons using tools on eTwinning and other European platforms
– monitor the calamitous events in each country and the natural areas from ground and from space: students will study and examine in depth the cutting edge technologies for the monitoring of geophysical and environmental phenomena on a large scale and for risk reduction
– connect our schools and other schools in the world about the extreme events and the biodiversity loss, develop International cooperation with other school in the world
-participate in Expo 2020 initiatives and implement them on Twinspace
Students will interact with local authorities, networks of citizens, operators in the sector, local industries. Teachers will promote critical thinking and discussions and will act as facilitators and advisors, guiding rather than directing. HEIs researchers will support the activities.
The dissemination of results and its sustainability are seen as a critically important aspect of the project and is not regarded as merely the conclusion to the project, but rather as an ongoing process. eTwinning will be the privileged channel of communication, so we will organize events, professional development opportunities, such as Learning Events, to introduce our topic, stimulate ideas, develop skills, support other teachers.
We think that our project will contribute to the achievement of the goals of Europa 2020 i.e. increase the number of students studying science at further/higher education level, increase employment within innovative research industry and develop technologies related to the environmental impact of human activities, which in turn address the issue of climate change, facing the challenges of Expo2020 about sustainability and opportunity and the goals of Agenda 2030.
Countries : Italy, Greece, Portugal, Cyprus
Subjects involved : Science, Languages, Physics, Mathematics, Art, Social Science, ICT, History, Geography

Project Website

https://twinspace.etwinning.net/92473/home

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 19006,8 Eur

Project Coordinator

LiceoMajorana & Country: IT

Project Partners

• PERIFEREIAKO GYMNASIO AGIAS VARVARAS
• Escola Secundária Arquitecto Oliveira Ferreira
• 2o GEL ACHARNON – ARISTOTLE HIGH SCHOOL