ECO-EXPLORERS: INSPIRING SUSTAINABILITY AWARENESS IN ICELAND’S CLASSROOM

This course is ideal for educators seeking to enhance their teaching practices and leadership skills in sustainability education. Whether you’re an experienced educator or new to the field, this course offers valuable insights and practical tools for promoting sustainability in the classroom and beyond.

With its stunning natural beauty and a commitment to renewable energy, Iceland is an example of the possibilities and constant challenges of sustainable development.

In this course, you will have the opportunity to use Iceland as a case study to reflect on your own countries’ resources and challenges. By examining Iceland’s successes and shortcomings, you can gain valuable insights into how to address sustainability issues in your own community.

You will also observe how schools in Iceland are incorporating Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into their teaching, reflect on the role of your school community in addressing global environmental challenges, and explore how small changes can make a big difference in determining whether your school is part of the problem or part of the solution.

Activities:

• Hands-On Learning: Engage in experiential activities in Iceland’s natural habitats, such as field trips to explore local ecosystems, visits to renewable energy sites, and interactive workshops.
• Fieldwork Excursions: Embark on fieldwork excursions to iconic Icelandic locations like Elliðaárdalur, Hellisheiðarvirkjun, and Laugardalur to gain firsthand experience in environmental exploration and sustainable practices.
• Collaborative Projects: Work with fellow educators to develop practical teaching resources and sustainability initiatives for your school community.

Objectives:

• Curriculum Integration: Learn strategies to integrate sustainability principles into your subject area, fostering interdisciplinary learning.
• Critical Thinking: Cultivate critical thinking skills in yourself and your students as you analyze real-world environmental challenges, develop solutions, and evaluate their impacts.
• Further Soft Skills Development: Engage in activities which enhance soft skills, including communication, collaboration, and empathy, necessary for fostering a sense of community and responsibility towards environmental solutions.
• Understanding Ecosystems: Gain firsthand experience in understanding ecosystems and their importance in maintaining environmental balance.
• Environmental Awareness: Deepen your understanding of environmental issues and develop practical approaches to address them within your school community, promoting environmental literacy and safeguarding of local green areas.

Methodology:

• Experiential Learning: Embrace a hands-on approach to learning through immersive experiences, encouraging curiosity, wonder, and active engagement with the natural world.
• Collaborative Inquiry: Engage in collaborative inquiry and problem-solving activities, fostering teamwork, communication, and empathy among participants.
• Reflection and Application: Reflect on your learning experiences and apply newfound knowledge and skills to your teaching practices, empowering yourself and your students to become environmental thinkers and changemakers.

Fieldwork Locations:

1. Elliðaárdalur: Explore the beautiful natural area close to Reykjavik, home to the first hydropower station in Iceland, now transformed into a museum. This popular outdoor area offers a perfect setting for hands-on learning and environmental exploration for schools.
2. Hellisheiðarvirkjun: Experience firsthand how green, sustainable energy is produced at one of the largest single-site geothermal power plants on the planet. Gain insights into the innovative technologies driving Iceland’s renewable energy revolution.
3. Laugardalur: Discover the hot spring valley of Reykjavik, learn about the history of how hot springs were first used for domestic purposes in the Reykjavik area. Explore the botanical garden, showcasing Icelandic flora and sustainable practices in urban environments.

Outstanding trainers

This course is run by Guðrún María Ólafsdóttir, an Icelandic teacher MBA, with 30 years’ experience. For the last 25 years, she has been a leader in outdoor and environmental education, both teaching in schools, mentoring students in universities, and as a project manager for Reykjavik schools.

Currently she is working for Kópavogur, the 2^nd, biggest city in Iceland, helping schools to combine outdoor learning, environmental teaching, culture, and history into a large toolbox for teachers to use while they are outside with their students.

Guðrún María’s main goal is to give students and teachers the opportunity to be outside regularly, to explore, understand and connect with the beauty of nature.

OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE EDUCATION SECTOR:

This course offers learning opportunities for teachers and school staff across the education sector including: Kindergarten; Primary; Secondary; Adult education; Special Needs; Teaching assistants; School management; Vocational education; Higher education; and Student teachers.

VISIT ICELANDIC SCHOOLS:

As part of the course and with your Icelandic hosts, you will have the opportunity to visit Icelandic schools at each educational stage. You will witness, first-hand, how Iceland, with only 330,000 inhabitants, produces so many well-known athletes and artists. You will see how outdoors, sport and practical subjects, such as home economics, woodwork and art, are given the same priority as academic subjects at all stages of education.

SHARING GOOD PRACTICE AND NETWORKING:

We also provide the opportunity to share good practice during the course so we can learn from each other and find partners for future projects: KA1 projects, job shadowing opportunities and/or KA229 projects.

TEACHER WELL-BEING:

One of our priorities while you spend your valuable time with us in Iceland is your well-being. Every teacher is important to us and we want you to feel valued and comfortable throughout your stay. As well as the extra activities we provide as part of the course fee (see below), we work hard to ensure you have a really good time. We ensure lots of team-building and “get to know you” activities from day one and our courses are dynamic and fun-packed. We are genuine Icelandic hosts so you will get the real Icelandic experience and we are renowned to look after our teachers really well.

AS PART OF THE COURSE WE ALSO PROVIDE:

• Morning refreshments
• Cultural evening
• Visit to the local swimming pool and hot tubs
• Course material
• Certificate of attendance

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES AND SIGHTSEEING:

Join us on our own tailor-made local tour of amazing Iceland with our SMART TEACHERS PLAY MORE TOUR PACKAGE for both participants and their families! A great way to enjoy the wonders of Iceland, network and get to know your new European friends.

ACCOMMODATION:

Don’t miss out on our EXCLUSIVE PARTICIPANT DISCOUNT VOUCHERS for a brand new trendy hotel we work with close to our course centre!

COURSE DATES:

07.07.2024 > 13.07.2024 CONFIRMED

10.11.2024 > 16.11.2024 CONFIRMED

20.07.2025 > 26.07.2025

09.11.2025 > 15.11.2025