Imagine a world, where students not only learn about the environment, but actively create solutions to the challenges that nature faces. To do this, teachers and educators can shape generations equipped with the knowledge and skills to tackle these challenges. However, the tools and resources necessary to integrate nature-based solutions (NBS) into education remain underutilized, whilst innovative NBS programs are still rare.
This course is designed to change that. Launched as a rerun of the 2023 MOOC “Exploring nature-based solutions in your classroom”, the current course expands its formal education reach to also include non-formal education settings and approaches, while offering a selection of new resources and teaching tools for both, and putting NBS careers in the spotlight. By joining this course, teachers and educators will be able to introduce NBS initiatives in their schools and communities, and lead discussions among various age groups on the sustainable future of our planet. Consider this course a pathway to transforming education and empowering the next generation to build with nature, instead of against it.
You can follow the course at your own pace. We will open one module at the beginning of each week, but there are only a few deadlines you need to pay attention to (those for the quizzes and/or the peer-review activity).
You will learn what nature-based solutions (NBS) are, by engaging with state-of-the-art resources and frameworks, e.g. GreenComp, building a strong theoretical foundation for future implementations.
You will discover a range of resources, tools, and strategies to help integrate NBS in your (school) community.
You will examine NBS learning scenarios created by expert teachers for inspiration from their best practices.
You will reflect on your current approaches by engaging with teachers and educators from all over Europe and beyond, brainstorming new ideas and methods.
You will create your own NBS learning scenario and review your peers’ work, improving the quality of your learning scenario through feedback.
Prerequisites
This course is open to all, but would be especially valuable for teachers and educators of primary and secondary education levels and age groups, who wish to explore NBS and sustainability in and outside their classrooms, schools and learning centers.
Modules
Module 1: What are nature-based solutions? opens on 13/01/2025
Module 2: Pedagogies supporting NBS implementation and the formation of an active youth opens on 20/01/2025
Module 3: Addressing NBS in your classroom and beyond as a response to real-world problems opens on 27/01/2025
Module 4: Submit your NBS learning scenario! opens on 03/02/2025
Certification
To earn a course certificate, course participants need to submit their NBS learning scenario and review three learning scenarios of other participants. The final deadline to complete all activities is 19 February 2025, 23:59 CET. The participation in the quizzes will amount to 5% of the final grade and is not a requirement for receiving the course certificate. The learning scenario, together with the peer reviews, will count for 95% of the final grade. The overall passing grade is 95%.
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
Ivelina Ivanova - Course Coordinator
Ivelina is a Project Manager in the Science Education Department of European Schoolnet (EUN). Ivelina coordinates the Horizon Europe project NBS EduWORLD and EUN’s participation in the EC co-funded NBS Academy project and the COOLSCHOOLS project, as well as previously the Scientix Ambassadors, the Scientix National Contact Points, and the Scientix STEM School Label.
Miriam Molina Ascanio - Course Coordinator
Miriam works as a Project and Pedagogical Operational Manager in the Science Education Department of European Schoolnet (EUN). Miriam oversees the day-to-day management of OUTSTE(A)M, CROPS and Life Terra projects and supports Scientix and the NBS EduWORLD and NBS Academy projects.
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 OUTSTE(A)M, NBS EduWORLD and COOLSCHOOLS and delivers workshops online and in person.
Behind the course
The MOOC "Exploring nature-based solutions in your classroom and beyond" 2025 reruns as part of the NBS EduWORLD project, coordinated by European Schoolnet. The MOOC is also supported by Scientix®.
The overall objective of NBS EduWORLD (https://nbseduworld.eu/) is to nurture an NBS literate society, supporting a just transition to a sustainable future. For this, NBS EduWORLD has created an NBS community that facilitates synergies between NBS professionals and education providers and ensures free and easy access to NBS knowledge and resources for all.
Scientix® is the community for science education in Europe (www.scientix.eu). 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.
The MOOC is based on the EC-funded Learning Scenarios developed by European Schoolnet (www.eun.org) with the support of PPMI (www.ppmi.lt/en).
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 Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. This MOOC is coordinated by European Schoolnet, and is based on the EC-funded Learning Scenarios developed by European Schoolnet (www.eun.org) with the support of PPMI (www.ppmi.lt/en). The MOOC is supported by Scientix®, an initiative of European Schoolnet.
