Description
Environmental education and the fight against climate change is a novel priority for both the European Union and the European educational systems. However, teachers can feel unfamiliar or unprepared to introduce a discussion about the environment in their curricular lessons…
… what if they used movies for this?
The course will prepare participants to use movies in the classroom to raise discussion and awareness on environmental issues and challenges, and what to do to promote action.
Films are a great resource for environmental education because they can evoke emotions, spark curiosity, and provide a visual representation of complex environmental issues.
They can help students understand the impact of human activity on the environment and inspire them to take action to protect it. Movies also offer diverse perspectives and can engage students who may not connect with traditional classroom materials.
Overall, movies can be a powerful tool for environmental education and can help create a more informed and engaged generation of environmental stewards.
Throughout the course, participants will engage in hands-on activities and discussions, allowing them to apply the concepts they learn to their own teaching practice.
Participants will be introduced to environmental education, starting from the European sustainability competence framework, which provides a comprehensive understanding of the importance of environmental education in the modern world.
Participants will also learn practical didactic techniques for using films in the classroom, including an overview of cinema history. They will become able to choose relevant movies, how to structure class discussions around the films, and how to use film as a tool for learning.
The course will also explore the different types of films that can be used to teach different topics, such as documentaries, fictional films, and animations.
Moreover, the course will focus on teachers’ capacity to lead deep debates in the classroom. Participants will learn a range of methodologies for leading discussions that enable students to explore complex environmental issues in depth, including the use of open-ended questions, group work, and role-play exercises.
By the end of the course, participants will have gained the skills and knowledge needed to confidently use films as a tool for teaching different environmental topics and to lead engaging and thought-provoking discussions in the classroom.
Learning outcomes
The course will help the participants to:
- Understand the role of environmental education in the European Union;
- Explain Green Sustainability in the light of the GreenComp competency framework;
- Apply their knowledge of green competencies in their teaching practice;
- Use films as a teaching tool on a wide range of environmental topics, including climate change, conservation, sustainability, pollution, and biodiversity;
- Master practical didactic skills for using films in the classroom;
- Select relevant films for educational purposes;
- Structure class discussions around proposed films;
- Choose and use films for different environmental topics, including documentaries, fictional films, and animations;
- Lead deep debates and discussions in the classroom.
Tentative schedule
Day 1 – Course Introduction
- Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
- Icebreaker activities;
- Presentations of the participants’ schools.
Title Introduction to Environmental Education and Climate Change
- Overview of climate change and its impact on the planet;
- The importance of using films in environmental education.
Day 2 – Film History and its Relation to environmental education
- Overview of the history of film and its evolution;
- The role of films in shaping public opinion and policy;
- The connection between film history and environmental education.
Day 3 – Film analysis techniques
- Understanding film techniques (e.g., lighting, camera angles, sound, etc.);
- Techniques for analyzing films to understand climate change and environmental issues;
- Role-playing and debates.
Day 4 – Using films to teach climate change
- Identifying appropriate films to teach climate change;
- Strategies for using films in the classroom;
- Discussion on the benefits and challenges of using films to teach climate change.
Day 5 – Designing engaging lesson on environmental education
- Strategies for designing engaging lessons on climate change and environmental education;
- Discussion on the importance of using humor and storytelling in teaching;
- Practice session: Creating and presenting a lesson plan on climate change and environmental education using a film.
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.