Project-based Workshops
- © Hamburger Umweltzentrum/BUND
In the afternoon of the second day of the conference, all participants were invited to participate in a workshop at an ESD project in the region. The aim of the project-based workshops was to strengthen the international exchange of good practice. Project-based workshops were organised by local ESD projects and focused on the implementation of ESD in practice. Examples from Germany were showcased through discussions and with hands-on experiences. In addition, project presentations and guided tours around the project area were provided. Project-based workshops also provided space for informal exchange between project representatives and conference participants.
I - Relevance of ESD for key sustainable development challenges
1. Water as a source of life: From traditional Excursions to streams towards innovative Stewardship of streams by schools, Bonn
This project-based workshop focused on projects with the aim of increasing knowledge on water as a source of life. Participants were divided into smaller groups and rotated between three stations. The Erich Klausener Gymnasium presented its active role within a stewardship of streams which has been in operation for more than ten years: aquatic, solid and cultural-historical problems have been thematised within the classroom and through field work. As a second station, the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union offered active experiences with water through the participation in experiments and practices as well as the introduction of methods related to real-life activities. The NEPTUN (new partnership for transnational understanding and co-operation in water management) project showcased as a third station its contribution to the further development of professionals in the water management field, via development of concepts, curricula and learning content based on the European Water Framework Directive.
2. Water quality and research – the ship MS Burgund as a swimming classroom, MS Burgund on the river Rhine
This project-based workshop was conducted by the Ministry for Environment, Forest and Consumer Protection of the federal state of Rhineland-Palatinate. It took place on the research ship “MS Burgund” on the river Rhine. Workshop participants took part in hands-on experiences normally conducted with school classes. Stations of learning with their exercises and working material specially created as a concept of teaching and learning within secondary schools was presented to the workshop participants. These stations are guided by authentic experts like the ship’s captain and the operator of the ship who normally present the stations to students. The aim of the project-based workshop was to educate participants towards being “laboratory assistants” “stream researchers”, “discoverers of the Rhine” and “ship’s masters”.
3. Biological Diversity and Education for Sustainable Development, Bonn University Botanic Gardens, Bonn
This project-based workshop was offered by the German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation (BfN), the Bonn University Botanic Gardens and Inwent Capacity Building International. The aim was to come into contact with colleagues of different countries and different backgrounds and talk about Biological Diversity as a key theme for ESD. Biological diversity in this context encompasses the conservation of species and habitats as well as a sustainable use. The great potential of Botanic Gardens and similar institutions for ESD in this context were shown. On stations in the Botanic Gardens, small groups discussed with project representatives the experiences in their own countries and opportunities for cooperation.
4. Learning sustainability in Forests and Nature - Examples of good practice in Germany, German Hunting and Conservation Association, Bonn
Forests are an ideal place to demonstrate the principles of sustainability: Here, nature inspires one with regard to a great variation of topics. The core of forest and nature education is to foster an understanding with all senses, based on Pestalozzi's idea of learning with "head, heart and hands". Forest education combines more than one educational method and has the potential to teach essential competences for a sustainable development. Moreover, the principle of sustainability was shown through examples of forest use, e.g. forestry and hunting. In innovative projects, sustainability is a process of negotiating ecological, economic, social and cultural factors. In the project-based workshop, four projects of interdisciplinary teaching outside of schools in and about forests were presented.
II - Building partnerships to promote ESD
5. From research to action: implementing ESD in higher education, German Academic Exchange Service, Bonn
Due to the summer school hosted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), 50 experts from different developing countries gathered in order to address the question as to how universities can actively face up to the challenges associated with ESD, and to what extent targeted structural changes can contribute to transforming universities for sustainability. In order to address varied experiences, as well as to emphasize cultural and regional issues, two topics were presented, namely: “Sustainable Development as Strategy and Aim of Higher Education” (University of Lüneburg) and “From Research to Practice: The Role of Education for Sustainable Development in Natural Resource Management in Research, Education and International Cooperation” (University of Greifswald). Cross-border education and cross-cultural experiences were interactively discussed with the audience and the conference delegates. In cooperation with the United Nations University (UNU) this workshop fostered a diverse platform in order to empower international experts on this agenda. With this instrument, the DAAD summer school on ESD, aimed to encourage an interdisciplinary and holistic approach in the field of ESD.
6. ESD and the socio-economic dimensions: a challenge towards changing behaviors and consumption patterns, German Academic Exchange Service, Bonn
Due to the summer school hosted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), 50 experts from different developing countries gathered in order to address the question as to how universities can actively face up to the challenges associated with ESD, and to what extent targeted structural changes can contribute to transforming universities for sustainability. In order to address varied experiences, as well as to emphasize cultural and regional issues, two topics were presented, namely: “Poverty and Social Inequality in Education and its Impact on Sustainable Development” (University of Kassel) and “Sustainability within the organic chemistry lab course” (University of Braunschweig). Cross-border education and cross-cultural experiences was interactively discussed with the audience and the conference delegates. This workshop fostered a diverse platform in order to empower international experts on this agenda. With this instrument, the DAAD summer school on ESD, aimed to encourage an interdisciplinary and holistic approach in the field of ESD.
7. How to approach global justice? Methods and instruments enhancing global competences and understanding, Inwent – Capacity Building International, Bonn
This workshop invited the participants to get involved in a direct dialogue: In the framework of this workshop, participants learned about different approaches to education for sustainable development covering different target and age groups, including people with disabilities. All participants had the opportunity to interact with different methods and instruments to achieve an interesting intercultural and transgenerational dialogue on global justice. An exhibition presenting the different methods and instruments accompanied this workshop.
III - Capacity Development for ESD
8. ESD and ICT: Multimedia learning, Wissenschaftsladen, Bonn
Multimedia and learning with ICT is becoming more and more important day-by-day. In this project-based workshop, different models of learning through multimedia for ESD were introduced. A brief introduction presented the different models of ICT-based learning. Participants then had the possibility to have hands-on experience at the different projects within a large exhibition together with representatives of projects. After this, a discussion on the process of learning through multimedia in different countries was held.
9. Non-formal Education for Sustainable Development through Experiential Learning, Finkens Garden, Cologne
Finkens Garden is an eco-social natural garden of 50,000 m2 where pre-school and primary school children can experience nature with hands-on experiences and senses. Within the project-based workshop a guided tour through the project area as well as the presentation of four partner projects from the city of Aalen, Aalen University, the BUND-Centre Heilbronn and the Society for Environmental Education Baden-Württemberg took place. Participants discussed the orientation of ESD towards experience and how to foster the interest of people of all ages for environmental topics by means of experimental learning, e.g. sowing, planting and harvesting as well as sensory experiences such as seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting and feeling; also in contact to natural elements like air, soil and water – by actively discovering and taking action.
10. Non-formal Education for Sustainable Development in visitor centres, exhibitions and nature experience activities, Naturgut Ophoven, Leverkusen
This project-based workshop focused on non-formal learning. Three stations dealt with ESD at exhibitions and nature experience activities. The International Wadden Sea School (IWSS) is an educational programme for school classes from the Wadden Sea countries Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. It wants to put into effect the idea of a trans-boundary approach to the protection of the Wadden Sea with the younger generation. The Germanwatch Climate Expedition brings climate change, its impacts and solutions into the class rooms by the means of live satellite images. By viewing the Earth from space, one can compare the situation of polar ice, glaciers, lakes, rainforests and other ecosystems in former times to their actual conditions. The project-based workshop took place in NaturGut Ophoven, one of the greatest points for extracurricular environmental education in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It has a big innovative exhibition on the topic of energy and a natural site with demonstration habitats of over 60,000 square meters. It works with schools, kindergartens and adults.
IV - ESD and the teaching-learning process
11. UNESCO Associated Schools working towards ESD, Robert Wetzlar Vocational School, Bonn
The German UNESCO ASPnet has 192 member schools of all types and age groups. The main topics of its work are Human Rights, Peace and Democracy Education, Intercultural Learning, Education for Sustainable Development and World Heritage Education, to name just a few. The Associated Schools use methods like open school, interdisciplinary classes, projects for different age groups and others to implement UNESCO’s aims and principles in their school programmes. Three ASP Schools took part in the project-based workshop in Bonn. The Schillergymnasium Münster presented Solar Net International, an association to support intercultural exchange projects. The Comenius Kolleg Mettingen presented group activities for first year university students based on ecological projects that were the results of German-Brazilian cooperation. The Robert Wetzlar Berufskolleg was the host school and presented projects on sustainable breakfast and barrier-free tourism within the region.
12. Pre-conference for the Children and Youth International Conference for the Environment (Brazil 2010), Emilie Heyermann Secondary School, Bonn
The Project “50/50 – energy efficiency and renewable energy” of the Emilie Heyermann Secondary School in Bonn is part of Agenda 21 at school and an official German project for the UN Decade. Students from Bonn and their partner schools in Budapest (Hungary) and Buchara (Uzbekistan) will set in motion working groups on the themes of climate change, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste avoidance and prevention of violence. Workshops will take place as a Conference at School in the lead-up to the Children and Youth International Conference for the Environment to be hosted by Brazil in 2010. This conference is a pedagogical campaign that brings together both the participation and the environmental-political dimensions for education on the theme of global responsibility. Workshop participants got involved in direct dialogue with the students discussing their ideas of projects to be started at the school.
13. Education for Sustainable Development in Life and at Work, House of NICA (sustainability within chemical vocational training), Hürth
The House of NICA is a common pilot project of the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB), the Institute for Innovation and Sustainability (IRIS) and the educational institution “Rhine-Erft Academy”, financially supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Starting with programmes like „responsible care“, there is a trend in the chemical industry towards developing a corporate culture. This goal can only be achieved with the participation of the whole staff. The pilot project NICA tries to transform the more abstract business principle of sustainable development into practical work. The pilot project is divided into the following sub-projects: development and testing of modules to integrate sustainability into VET; development and testing of a model of indicators and key figures to assess sustainability; "House of NICA" – apprentices plan and construction of a sustainable house; The sustainable educational institution. Within the project-based workshop, the project was presented by vocational students.
14. Starting strong: Education for Sustainable Development in early childhood, Kindergarten “Hand in Hand”, Oberhonnefeld
This project-based workshop showed that skills and competences of fundamental importance can be nurtured long before the first day at school. The approach of “Learning to shape life” has been implemented into everyday work at several hundred kindergartens within Germany. One of these, the day nursery in Oberhonnefelde, discussed their work on ESD in early childhood through an exchange of ideas and experiences with participants. The implementation of this approach through information, cooperation, education, support and creativity within the federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate was shown as well.
