Climate Change Education

 

Global issues like climate change are becoming more and more urgent, and schools have an increasing responsibility towards students’ need for education about those topics.

But how should teachers really engage with those topics in classes? And how can they support their students to take effective action in the issues that matter to them, as well as to face new challenges?

This training adopts a global perspective on the themes of sustainable development, ecological footprints, global justice, and poverty, and how these influence and are influenced by climate change. By adopting an interdisciplinary approach, this training recognizes the contributions of teachers of all subjects and ages to meaningful climate action.

In this training, participants will be engaged in learner-centered activities, such as group discussions, debates, case studies, and role-plays, which are suitable for use in the classroom with learners of different levels.

Each module will explore the root causes of global challenges, and build the knowledge, values, attitudes and skills teachers need to empower their students.

By the end of this training, participants will be able to integrate climate change and global citizenship into their lesson plans, and feel ready to lead whole-school action projects that engage the community and produce meaningful results.

TARGET GROUP

This training is intended for teachers, educators and administrative staff of schools, adult education centres, VET centres and Higher Education Institutions.

METHODOLOGY

Daily motivational activities, self-improvement, group and pair work, simulations, and networking will all be a part of the training (course) methodology in addition to classroom and outdoor activities. The process will change every teacher into an empowered version of themselves as an environmental agent who cares about the growth of their students as well as how to build a more just and equitable society. Lectures, seminars, and workshops will be included in the training (course) to provide thorough understanding and daily assignment support. Additionally, participants will work and receive a guide to implement this topic or just to enjoy themselves with their students by engaging in indoor and outdoor activities. At the conclusion of the course, we will give each participant an attendance certificate that includes specific details about the course, such as the title, curriculum, and timetable. A Europass Mobility Certificate may also be included upon request.

TRAINING CONTENT

The following Agenda will be followed during a seven full day training program:  

DAY 1 – Introduction to the course

Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;

Icebreaker activities

Presentations of the participants’ schools

DAY 2 – Global Citizenship Education

Identify central themes within Global Citizenship Education (GCE) and connect these to subject knowledge

Explore different definitions of development and connect this to local communities

Learn about the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, how they are interconnected, and the consequences for own lives

DAY 3 – Climate change education

Develop students’ knowledge of ecological footprints: learn practical strategies to introduce this topic into the classroom

Compare and contrast approaches to climate change education; creative, action-oriented, fact-based, effective

Identify the root causes of global issues with student-centred resources and tools

DAY 4 – Injustice, inequality, and poverty

Continue the exploration central themes of GCE by investigating the notions of injustice, inequality, and poverty

Connect injustice, inequality, and poverty to climate change and development

Evaluate the concept of power, appraise its role in combating climate change, and role-play different ways that power can be exercised

DAY 5 – Creating your climate action

Illustrate the themes of development, inequality, and climate through a case study set in the Global South

Appraise models of effective youth-led action to compare and criticise effective climate action projects

Use tools and resources to plan, develop, and enable a climate campaign or project at your schools

DAY 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion

Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance

Excursion and other external cultural activities

COMPETENCES ACQUIRED BY PARTICIPANTS 

The training  aims to develop participants’ awareness and creativity in designing lessons, workshops and projects to to integrate climate change and global citizenship into their lesson plans in their organisations and the whole community.

Specific objectives of the training are:

  • Show participants how to engage students in global citizenship themes such as justice, inequality, development, and climate;
  • Show participants how to connect climate and citizenship education to subject knowledge;
  • Show participants how to guide students to understand how personal actions are connected to the wider world;
  • Devise practical strategies to teach students about carbon footprints, the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and climate action;
  • Use learner-centered activities, group work, and ICT to help students develop as global citizens;
  • Improve the participants’ personal and professional skills in teaching
  • Promote more interactive, caring and horizontal relationship between educators and students
  • Show the importance of networks and stakeholders’ involvement in the implementation and promotion of sustainable development
  • Enhance the participant’s ability to adapt to changes
  • Create a cross-cultural environment to discuss and exchange ideas with colleagues
  • Provide tools of professional development for the educators
  • Increase capacity to cooperate on an international level
  • Improve communication and social skills
  • Improve English language skill
  • Lead effective climate action in their classrooms and schools, in ways which are meaningful for students.

   TYPE OF CERTIFICATION OF ATTENDANCE AWARDED

  • Certificate of attendance including description of training content and time input
  • Certificate of Obtained Competencies
  • Europass mobility certificates