Welcome to the "Carbon Act MOOC: Innovative Teaching for Climate Solutions," a transformative course designed to empower educators with the knowledge and tools to tackle one of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate change.
In today’s world, the impacts of climate change are increasingly evident and far-reaching. Extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and ecosystem disruptions affect communities worldwide. Yet, within this crisis lies hope. Educators like you are uniquely positioned to shape the future by inspiring environmental stewardship in the next generation.
Covering essential topics, this course provides a comprehensive understanding of climate change and practical strategies for classroom and school integration. You will also have the opportunity to connect with educators from Europe and beyond, creating a vibrant community of climate advocates.
You can follow the course at your own pace. We will open one module at the beginning of each week, but there is only a single deadline you need to pay attention to (the submission of your Learning Scenario and the peer-review activity).
Empower yourself, inspire your students, and become part of the solution. Learn, Teach, and Act with the Carbon Act MOOC. Scroll down to learn more about this course!
Learning objectives
Develop a comprehensive understanding of climate change, enhancing your ability to convey its importance to your students.
Learn strategies for integrating climate change into your lessons through engaging pedagogies and interdisciplinary approaches.
Gain the tools and knowledge to implement climate initiatives within your school community.
Design your Carbon Act Learning Scenario on a chosen climate topic.
Prerequisites
This course is meant for practising teachers of all subjects and grade levels, with all levels of experience, and student teachers preparing for entry into the profession. Other school staff (librarians, school leaders, etc.) who are interested in advancing climate change education are also welcome to join.
Modules
Module 1: Understanding climate change opens on 09/09/2024
Module 2: Classroom strategies for teaching climate change opens on 16/09/2024
Module 3: Whole-school approaches to climate action opens on 23/09/2024
Module 4: Submit your Carbon Act learning scenario opens on 30/09/2024
Certification
In order to earn a course certificate, course participants need to submit a Learning Scenario and review 3 of their peers' Learning Scenarios, which will count for 100% of the grade. The final deadline to complete all activities is 16 October 2024, 23:59 CEST.
Note to teachers from Castilla y León: Si eres profesor de Castilla y León, y además del certificado de la European Schoolnet Academy, quieres recibir un certificado oficial de parte de la Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León inscríbete en la página web del CFP Idiomas de Castilla y León http://cfpidiomas.centros.educa.jcyl.es/sitio/
Note to teachers from Portugal: You can get your successful participation in a European Schoolnet Academy course formally recognised as a valid continuous professional development, and thereby acquire the relevant number of training hours, by sending your certificate to the Conselho Científico e Pedagógico de Formação Contínua (CCPFC) at Rua do Forno, nº 30, 1º andar - apartado 2168, 4700 - 429 Braga, Portugal. For more information, please contact the CCPFC.
Note to teachers from Emilia-Romagna: Per i docenti della regione Emilia-Romagna iscritti alla piattaforma regionale https://iscrizioni.istruzioneer.it/ è possibile ottenere, oltre all’attestato rilasciato da European Schoolnet Academy, anche l’attestato rilasciato dall’Ufficio Scolastico Regionale per l'Emilia-Romagna (Servizio Marconi) che attua un'azione di facilitazione ed accompagnamento a questa attività. Maggiori informazioni al link: https://bit.ly/EuroSmooc21.
Note to teachers from Ireland: It may be possible to count the completion of this course as part fulfilment of any discretionary CPD hours, subject to your school management's approval. Therefore, please enquire with your school management if your participation in this course can be formally recognised.
Course Staff
Rute Baptista - Course Coordinator
Rute Baptista is a Pedagogue and currently serves as the Professional Development Manager at the European School Education Platform and eTwinning. She collaborates with teachers from 44 countries, providing support, coordination, and management for online and face-to-face professional development opportunities. Additionally, Rute works as a pedagogical consultant and project manager for European Schoolnet, a Consortium of 30+ Ministries of Education, based in Brussels, where she leads the Carbon Act project. Previously, for 8 years until 2012, Rute worked at the Portuguese Ministry of Education, focusing on European Projects and ICT in Education. She contributed to various national-level projects and initiatives in this field. Rute is also a Teacher Trainer, conducting training for trainers in private companies in Portugal. She holds a degree in Pedagogy and specialises in curriculum development and project coordination.
Júlia Lotina Cartanyà - Course Coordinator
Júlia Lotina Cartanyà is a Project Coordinator at the Science Education Department of European Schoolnet (EUN), a network of over 30 Ministries of Education based in Brussels. Júlia supports the coordination of the Smart Connected Classrooms pilot project and the Carbon Act, as well as EUN’s contributions to CROPS. Previously, she has been involved in coordinating the Exploring Nature-Based Solutions in Your Classroom MOOC Rerun and developing and coordinating the Bring the Ocean into Your School MOOC. Júlia’s areas of interest include digital education and education for environmental sustainability. She holds a master's degree in Social Policy, with a specialisation in education, from the London School of Economics.
Georgia Lascaris - Course Moderator
Holding a degree from the Department of Informatics at the Athens University of Economics and Business, Georgia Lascaris is an experienced educator with two decades of teaching expertise and a decade of industry experience as a Software Developer-Analyst. As a Scientix Ambassador, EU CodeWeek Leader, and SDGs Goals Ambassador, she integrates coding, robotics, AI, and environmental education into her curriculum, actively promoting STEM education at both national and European levels. Through innovative classroom projects, publications, conference presentations, and professional training sessions, Georgia empowers teachers and students to embrace cutting-edge technologies and understand how these tools can be used to tackle real-world challenges.
Behind the course
The Carbon Act project, funded by the European Union's Erasmus+ program and coordinated by European Schoolnet, empowers teachers across Europe to effectively integrate climate change and sustainability education into their classrooms. This initiative supports a broader European effort to equip future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to tackle climate challenges.
Scientix®, the community for science education in Europe, promotes and supports a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM teachers, education researchers, policymakers and other STEM education professionals.
Disclaimer
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
This MOOC is also supported by Scientix®, an initiative of European Schoolnet.