Educational program about circular economy
The momentum for circular economy has never been so strong up to date. World-wide environmental phenomena, such as climate change and the levels of raw materials consumption, require a change in the way we all live and transformation of our way of thinking and acting. To make these changes, we need new skills, new values, and behavior changes in our daily lives.
As Einstein characteristically said,
"No problem can be solved with the very thinking tools that created it”
The ever-expanding environmental movements of young people demonstrate the vigilance of young students and their dealing with the pressing problems that the earth is facing. Young people are urgently eager to see changes in the management of the environment and resources, while at the same time having to be the citizens who will bring about these changes through their education, their professional life and the attitude of their lives.
OBJECTIVE OF THE PROGRAM
The aim of the program is to educate students on the basic principles of circular economy, the modifications required in the shift from linear to circular production, consumption and resource management, and the specification of circular economy to the use of lakes and lakes’ sweet water. At the same time, they will become familiar with the connection of circular economy with Ancient Greek culture.
Educating students about the philosophy of circular economy and the changes required in all of changing land management models from linear to circular approaches.
MOTO
#circularLakes
TARGET GROUP
The program has been designed for students of 3rd grade of Middle school ( gymnasium) and 1st grade of high school (Lyceum). The regions involved are the 34 Municipalities/Members of the Network of Cities with lakes.
BENEFICIARIES
Beneficiaries are students of the 3rd grade of middle school ( gymnasium) and 1st grade of High School (Lyceum) , 13 - 15 years old, of the Municipalities/members of the Lakes Network. It is addressed to 34 Greek municipalities, with 203 gymnasiums and 180 high schools. Total students: 8136,00 at 3rd grade of middle school and 7.153 students at 1st Grade of High.
IMPLEMENTATION BODY
Network of cities with Lakes, Technical & Scientific support by ODENA Institute
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM
The program is structured in two parts: a./ teaching hours and b./ production of audio-visual material by students.
The lessons are divided in five (5) modules and are done with the help of video and work books. Each module lasts one or two hours.
The module agenda is:
- The transition from linear to circular economy
- Biocycles and sustainability systems
- Circular design methods (materials, objects, technologies, ideas) and productivity.
- The participation of the Ancient Greek Culture in the circular model of thinking
- Circular economy and management / utilization of lakes
At the end of each session, students will prepare a max two (2) minutes long video presenting their thoughts on the unit as well as their suggestions on the subject.
At the end of the five modules the students will (divided into groups) to create a total video of a maximum length of 4 minutes. They will present their ideas for utilizing the lake of their area based on the principles of circular economy they taught.
The final videos will be evaluated by a committee that will be set up for this scope. A number of selected videos will be presented at an event in the European Parliament.
At the same time, a youtube channel & social networks will be created to establish communication of the participating students with students from European cities by lakes.
REQUIREMENTS
The implementation of the program requires:
- Production of educational material
- Training to trainers
- Teaching Planning in Schools
- Student material collection & evaluation
- Promoting material on European circular economy education platforms
- Presentation of a program to the European Parliament
IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE
Pilot phase of the program
The pilot phase of the program Includes 68 schools of 34 municipalities (1 middle school and 1 high school from each municipality).
Total students: 2,700 students
Implementation: March - April - May 2021
Total phase of the program
Includes all schools of the 34 Municipal Members of the Network
Total schools: 203 middle schools, 180 high schools
Total students: 8,136 students of 3rd grade of middle school, 7.153 students of 1st grade of high school students (number of students is for the academic year 2019 - 2020)
Implementation of the program: 2021 - 2023
