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Training approaches for educators and teacher trainers


NBSAcademy

Welcome to the MOOC Nature-based solutions: Training approaches for educators and teacher trainers

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Are you ready to empower the next generation of teachers through nature-based solutions (NBS)? Whether you're a teacher trainer or an educator supporting peers, if you want to explore how to better prepare teachers for NBS, this free online MOOC is made for you!

By joining this course, you will master the skills needed to train teachers in NBS effectively through ITE and CPD programmes. You will also explore practical tools and innovative methods to boost your teaching confidence, make NBS learning more engaging and impactful, and ensure that educators feel prepared and supported to shape the future generation of advocates for a more sustainable future!

You can follow the course at your own pace. We will open one module at the beginning of each week, and there are only a few deadlines you need to pay attention to (those for the quizzes and/or the peer-review activity).

Join us in the Facebook group or share your thoughts on X (formerly Twitter) using the hashtag #NBSAcademyMOOC.

Learning objectives

  • You will identify the key skills teachers need to effectively integrate NBS into education by analysing real-world examples, EU frameworks, and current gaps in teacher training programs.
  • You will explore the competences required for teacher trainers to prepare educators for NBS by discovering the NBS Academy Teacher Trainer Competence Checklist.
  • You will design an effective NBS Learning Scenario for Teacher Training by selecting appropriate pedagogical strategies, aligning with GreenComp and DigCompEdu frameworks, and addressing the needs of both pre-service and in-service teachers.
  • You will evaluate and improve your work by engaging in process-oriented assessment methods, practicing peer review, and refining your approach based on constructive feedback.
  • You will gain confidence in teaching NBS and promoting its integration in ITE and CPD programmes, contributing to making a lasting impact in education for sustainability

Prerequisites

This course targets teachers (pre-service and in-service) and teacher trainers, keen to learn how to train educators to effectively teach about nature-based solutions (NBS), whether as an ITE or CPD provider, or an educator (to be) involved in peer training.

Modules

  • Module 1: Building the Green Foundation: NBS education opens on 08/09/2025
  • Module 2: Addressing the Roots of Teachers’ Skill Gaps opens on 15/09/2025
  • Module 3: Designing Impactful Programs for NBS Teacher Training opens on 22/09/2025
  • Module 4: Assessing and Advancing NBS Teacher Training opens on 29/09/2025

Certification

To earn a course certificate, course participants need to submit their NBS Learning Scenario for Teacher Training and review three learning scenarios of other participants. In order to receive the certificate, the participation in the activities of the MOOC will count for 5%, and the creation of your NBS Learning Scenario for Teacher Training with the completion of the peer review activity will count for 95%. The overall passing grade is 95%.

The final deadline to complete all activities is 15 October 2025, 23:59 CET.

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

Ivelina Ivanova - Course Coordinator

Ivelina is a Project Manager in the Science Education Department of European Schoolnet® (EUN). She leads EUN and Scientix® actions targeting Environmental sustainability in education. Ivelina coordinates the Horizon Europe project NBS EduWORLD and EUN’s participation in the EC (co-)funded projects NBS Academy and BUSTIC EDU, as well as previously the Scientix® Ambassadors, Scientix® National Contact Points, and Scientix® STEM School Label.

Nikolaos Tezas - Course Coordinator

Nikolaos is a Pedagogical Coordinator and Project Officer in the Science Education Department of European Schoolnet® (EUN). He engages in pedagogical and coordination activities in the EU-funded projects NBS EduWORLD, NBS Academy, and OUTSTE(A)M, and delivers workshops online and in person.

Chiara Longobardi - Course Coordinator

Chiara is a Project Officer for Educational Research and Development at European Schoolnet®. She contributes to multiple projects focused on sustainability, green and digital skills, and innovative STE(A)M pedagogies. Her work involves pedagogical research to design new educational materials and supporting educators through co-creation of resources and delivery of both online and in-person training.

Behind the course

The MOOC "Nature-based Solutions: Training Approaches for Educators and Teacher Trainers" 2025 is part of the NBS Academy project and coordinated by European Schoolnet®. The MOOC is also supported by Scientix®.

NBS Academy (www.nbsacademy.eu) is an Erasmus+, Teacher Academies (TA) project with a duration of 36 months, consisting of 9 full partners and 13 associated partners from Greece, Belgium, Austria, Cyprus, Sweden, Germany & Bulgaria. The main aim and vision of NBS Academy is to create a European Community of Practice by engaging and training teachers, training providers, policymakers and NBS experts to mainstream Nature-based Solutions (NBS) in school education. Through the creation of a new NBS Education Framework, NBS Academy will acknowledge the innovative aspect of NBS Education

Scientix® (www.scientix.eu) is the community for science education in Europe.

European Schoolnet® (www.eun.org) is the network of 30+ European Ministries of Education. EUN aims to bring innovation in teaching and learning to its key stakeholders: Ministries of Education, schools, teachers, researchers, and industry partners.

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Disclaimer

EU funded logo 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 Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This MOOC is coordinated by European Schoolnet® and supported by Scientix®, an initiative of European Schoolnet®.

Creative Commons License

All content on this course unless specified otherwise is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

  1. Course Code

    TrainingApproaches
  2. Classes Start

  3. Classes End

  4. Estimated Effort

    5h per week (25h total)
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