Environmental Learning Illustrated Erasmus Project

Project Title

Environmental Learning Illustrated

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 : Strategic Partnerships for adult education

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: ICT – new technologies – digital competences; New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses; Environment and climate change

Project Summary

The European Commission 2014 paper ‘A Healthy and Sustainable Environment for Present and Future Generations’ speaks of the European Union’s long-term commitment to sustainable development. This paper also states that “Since the 1970s, the EU has agreed over 200 pieces of legislation to protect the environment. But legislation alone counts for little if it is not properly applied and enforced. The partners of “Environmental Learning Illustrated” wanted to contribute to the development of programmes that link adult education, training, and innovation in the digital era with the pressing environmental issues of our time. We would like to be at the forefront of the conversation and the transition to a low-carbon future using education as a tool, defining the channels and communication strategies to reach a wider number of people in various countries, and improving and extending the supply of high-quality learning opportunities for individuals in this field. To do that, we wanted to create an open e-learning programme where people can learn about the causes of climate change and what they can do to contribute to solving the climate crisis.

The Surefoot Effect from the UK; Volontariato Torino from Italy; The Centre for Education and Entrepreneurship Support from Poland, and E.N.T.E.R. GmbH from Austria were the project partners. The Surefoot Effect (Surefoot) equips people with lifelong skills for sustainability by providing (i) space to think; (ii) time to explore motives and feelings regarding more sustainable lifestyles, and (iii) leadership that inspires action. This process has led thousands of people to successfully reduce their impact on the environment. Volontariato Torino (VolTo) is the Volunteer Support Centre of Turin. VolTo is an umbrella non-profit organization with 160 member organizations and a network of more than 1300 voluntary associations. VolTo works to provide free services (such as training, consultancy, planning assistance) to assist the voluntary associations in the Province of Turin. The Centre for Education and Entrepreneurship Support (CEES) is a non-governmental, non-profit organization that works in the field of youth and cooperates with businesses, universities, schools, enterprises and educational institutions. CEES promotes entrepreneurship to young people at school as well as to those who already run their businesses. E.N.T.E.R. GmbH (ENTER) is a European network and has more than 900 member organisations in 44 countries in varied fields and sectors. ENTER’s main objective is to provide a unique network structure for the dissemination and sustainable use of EU project outcomes.

“Environmental Learning Illustrated” developed an online interactive learning platform for participants to learn about the cause of climate change and potential solutions according to four main themes: energy and climate change, food, transport and consumption and waste. These four main themes also included related topics such as climate justice, water consumption and environmental refugees. The programme included a 28-page graphic novel and 63 illustrations that served to convey the main topics covered.

Under the principle that “people remember stories, not facts” partners wanted to add graphic content to make learning on climate change issues more memorable and more enjoyable and to engage with people for whom formal scientific learning is not optimal. This methodology also follows the work carried by Surefoot in which environmental problems are developed by letting participants explore their values, emotions and identity. The design of the programme was also based on information provided by 223 people on how they would like to see an online tool such as this one structured and developed.

All objectives set in the original application have been met with over 50 people from each participating country taking part in preliminary surveys that informed the team on the best way to structure and develop the online course. Six people from participating organisations trained to develop content for Intellectual Output 01 under the guidance of two experienced trainers from CEES, and eight people from the participating organisations trained on how to communicate projects and activities that use storytelling and similar formats in order to facilitate the input ideas from the main topics of the project for the illustrations and the graphic novel. Finally, 416 people were happy to participate in the pilot of the e-learning modules.
Recent events such as unprecedented forest fires in the Amazon and other rainforests and the premature melting of large areas of Greenland and Antarctica are making people from all over the world more concerned about the conservation of nature and willing to initiate activities that protect it. This programme has offered an opportunity for partners and a large number of participants to engage in these topics in a positive light to learn and support the alternatives that already exist.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 168213,67 Eur

Project Coordinator

The Surefoot Effect, CIC & Country: UK

Project Partners

• Volontariato Torino
• E.N.T.E.R. GMBH
• STOWARZYSZENIE CENTRUM WSPIERANIA EDUKACJI I PRZEDSIEBIORCZOSCI