This course was designed to introduce climate change education for sustainable development across the curriculum and multiple subjects. We all need to understand how and what to teach about the complex forces driving climate change and its impacts on culture, safety, and the well-being of our lives and the ones to come (future generations). Teachers have an essential role in advancing a whole-school response to climate change. That includes addressing climate and sustainability across the curriculum, building upon the participatory learning approaches called for by education for sustainable development, and moving learning out of the classroom and into the community. 1

The course’s program was not just theoretical but highly practical and dynamic. It involved outdoor activities, expeditions, museum visits, and real-life case studies, providing a hands-on learning experience. It focused on sustainability, a priority in schools’ programs. I prepared for the course by gathering and presenting practical and theoretical tasks related to the topic that have already been implemented or are planned to be implemented at the school level. I was looking forward to practical tips from the course instructor and participating colleagues on bringing the concept of sustainability closer to the students. Networking with teachers from other countries focusing on this theme was also one of my key objectives. During the course, I gained a detailed theoretical overview of sustainability and some practical ideas that will strengthen both my and my students’ competencies in sustainability. Visiting the waste sorting facility and learning about the ongoing educational activities were the most useful parts of the program.
https://www.lipor.pt/en/

Our tutor, Sandra Rodrigues, played a crucial role in the course. Her enthusiasm was outstanding, and she actively collaborates in the implementation and management of other projects, namely the Marine Waste Strategy and the Reuse Strategy. These projects address the themes of prevention, waste management, biodiversity and good practices of sustainable consumption. She is also a trainer at the Lipor Academy for training courses on Combating Marine Litter and Creative Reuse of Materials. Her expertise and passion for sustainability were evident throughout the course, and her guidance was invaluable in helping us understand and apply the concepts we learned. 2

During the mobility, I gained valuable and easily implementable ideas for developing the local curriculum for Sustainability, which will be introduced as a new subject in our institution. The course inspired several future goals for my work as a master teacher, including presenting the relationship between digitalization and sustainability in a workshop format. The concept of sustainability was explained at a local, regional, national, and global level, as well as how systems theory applies to sustainability. It also explained the concepts of ecological and carbon footprints, as well as personal footprints, and analysed the effects of humans on the planet – past, present, and future. In the future, I will be able to create and implement a plan to reduce personal/school, ecological or carbon footprints (energy, waste, water, and transportation); identify and compare strategies to influence behavioural change; and create/continue to implement an action plan to make schools and communities more sustainable.

With the help of the course, as an outcome I can apply and/or adapt different concepts, ideas, and teaching methodologies in my classes. I could also broaden my knowledge about the relationship between digitalization and sustainability and the tools that can be applied in education. Several videos and digital educational materials were presented and shared with us that can effectively motivate students. Enhancing communicative competencies in English and social skills, promoting intercultural awareness, learning more about Portugal’s and Porto’s culture, and heritage society, identifying and sharing good practices that can be implemented locally were among the outcomes of the course.

The course had some extra values and offered activities like:

● Welcome Kit from Learning Together’s Team;

● Quality Daily Program – designed by local innovative trainers;

● Welcome Session – for icebreaking and briefing while enjoying Portuguese delicacies;

● Social and Cultural Heritage Activities to foster cultural knowledge;

● Hop On & Hop Off Tour Bus;

● 6 Bridges River Cruise;

● Visit the Port Wine Cellars & Wine Tasting Experience.

● Daily Coffee Break – to enjoy a morning break between peers & trainer;

● Logistic, Organizational & Administrative Support – from headquarters & LT Team;

● Full Daily Assistance – on-call+chat support throughout the whole week;

● Certification Ceremony – course validation, networking and farewell.

Written by: Ildikó Győri

22 July 2024