KidsLab4Sustainability: Online Course for Educators

This course was designed for educators, teachers and parents who have an interest in approaching outdoor education for preschool children, with a particular focus on Sustainability. It is open to everyone.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To join the course there are no requirements.

GOALS OF THE COURSE

• Sustainable Development (ESD) - Understand and promote Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by exploring it holistically. Analyze the interconnection of SDGs, prioritize ethical decision-making, and identify causes and effects of socio-environmental issues. Teach ecological awareness and sustainable practices through innovative strategies and the integration of ESD and Global Citizenship education into curricula.

• Outdoor Education - Learn what outdoor education means and what enables children to learn through and from nature. Get to know the key pedagogical theories associated to outdoor education. Acquire tools and advice for educators on how to engage preschool children with learning outdoors and promote the incorporation of outdoor education into the curriculums.

• STEAM as educational strategy in sustainable education - Learn about STEAM education: what it is, what are its origins, its values, and what differentiates it from traditional education. Discover STEAM competences and how to develop them in preschool education. Understand selected methods of STEAM education which might be used on preschool level and how to use inquiry-based learning in educational practice.

• Teaching and learning through relationships - Learn about the value of attuned relationships and learn through play in early childhood education. Explor methods to measure and nurture attuned relationships with children and to play as a pedagogical practice. Acquire methods and tools of self assessment through video analysis for your educational practices.

CONTENTS OF THE COURSE

The course consists of four modules

MODULE 1

Sustainable Development  | 3 lessons - 39 min

MODULE 2

Outdoor Education | 3 lessons - 22 min

MODULE 3

STEAM as educational strategy in sustainable education | 3 lessons - 71 min

MODULE 4

Teaching and learning through relationships | 3 lessons - 25 min

TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR PASSING THE COURSE

To pass the course, you need to answer the questions provided in each module.

CRITERIA FOR RECEIVING A CERTIFICATE

Certificate of completion of the course can be obtained after passing 60% of the points on assignments and quizzes.

COURSE STAFF

The project team KIDS LAB 4 SUSTAINABILITY (https://kidslab4sustainability.eu/)

Funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union

Project partners:  Fundacja Ignatianum (Poland), Fondazione Politecnico di Milano (Italy), Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta (Italy), Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (Spain), Dublin City University (Ireland).

 Prof. UIK,dr hab. Barbara Surma (coordinator)

Educator, theorist and practitioner. Scientific interests include preschool pedagogy and Maria Montessori's pedagogy. An academic teacher with many years of experience who combines his scientific activities with working with preschool children. Coordinator of several projects implemented at the Ignatianum University in Cracow and the Ignatianum Foundation.