Becoming a European Blue School, teacher workshops

DG MARE challenges schools to Find the Blue and take the first steps to become agents for change and sustainability of the ocean and seas.  Teachers who wish to Find the Blue and start developing their project, can take part in the workshop series 'Becoming a European Blue School'.

Each online workshop includes two sessions of two hours. It features breakout room presentations and exercises on one of the three topics by marine scientists and experienced educators who are renowned experts in their disciplines, small working group discussions and professional guidance to develop a project and become a European Blue School.

The webinars are designed for teachers who wish to become part of the Network of European Blue Schools, for all ages and at all student grade levels. Teachers in science, arts, languages, sports, economics, and other school subjects are all invited to participate.

After the workshop, the participants will:

• Understand why you should teach about one of the three major ocean and sea issues: Food from the Ocean, Climate and Ocean, Healthy and Clean Ocean.
• Know how to become a successful European Blue School.
• Identify a relevant topic for your school project.
• Be able to develop a school project on one of the above oceans and sea issues.

These workshops are organized within the framework of the 2021 STEM Discovery Campaign, and are a collaboration between the EU4Ocean Coalition, Scientix, the community for science education in Europe and The European Atlas of the Seas, EMODNET.

Programme:

The Science Projects Online Workshops (SPOW) include 3 to 4 parallel tracks each. Teachers may apply to up to one track per workshop. Participants will be selected to ensure a wide-spread participation in the different workshops.

Dates:

• SPOW02: with sessions Fridays 19 & 26 February 2021 from 17:00 – 19:00 CET targeted to teachers with students aged 3-9. Tracks: a) Food from the Ocean, b) Climate and Ocean and c) Healthy and Clean Ocean

Speakers: Noëlle Billon (EUN), Evy Copejans (EMSEA), Alison Neilson (FCH.UNL), Andreea Ionascu (Mare Nostrum), Joana Da Rosa, Nathalie Van Isacker, Tim Collart, André-Anne Marsan (EMODNET), Eliane Bastos (EMSEA), Giulia Realdon (Uni of Camerino/EMSEA) and Esther Farrant (Ocean Conservation Trust)

• SPOW04: with sessions Thursdays 18 & 25 March 2021 from 16:00 – 18:00 CET targeted to teachers with students aged 10-14. Tracks: a) Food from the Ocean, b) Climate and Ocean and c) Healthy and Clean Ocean
• SPOW05: with sessions Wednesdays 14 & 21 April 2021 from 17:00 – 19:00 CET targeted to teachers with students aged 15-19. Tracks: a) Food from the Ocean, b) Climate and Ocean and c) Healthy and Clean Ocean

Places and certification: Maximum 10 teachers per track. After the completion of the SPOW, active participants get a certificate of participation.

Language and duration: All workshops will be conducted in English and the overall workload expected is of ~8 hours (including the preparatory work, online sessions, and “homework”).

Cost: The seminars are free of charge.

Format: All workshops will be held via Microsoft Teams and run over a three-week period including:

• week 1: reading some preparatory materials
• week 2: an online session of two hours (session 1)
• between sessions 1 and 2: asynchronous “homework” for participants
• week 3: an online session of two hours (session 2)

Registration: To apply for one of the workshops, go to: http://www.scientix.eu/live/SPOWs   

If selected for this workshop, you will be informed latest one week before the SPOW's week.