Exploring Biodiversity and Ecology Through the Lens of Creativity and Culture - Barcelona

Available in: Dublin, Barcelona, Strasbourg

Course calendar: Check the confirmed dates

Cultural activities: The number and schedule of the cultural activities depend on the location; check the location webpage to discover more.

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Course Description

We, humans, tend to perceive nature as something to control or visit rather than being instinctively aware that it is something that we are an integral part of and that our lives depend on. How can we re-wilden ourselves and the land that we use? This course aims to reintroduce you and your students to your natural habitat through colorful, interactive encounters with diverse plants and animals.

Combining hands-on ecology with visual arts, storytelling, music, drama, and games makes it easy to form an intimate knowledge of our planet’s ecosystems and a deep affection for the biodiversity that they support. It enables us to imagine a healthy, abundant future for our environment and take positive action towards that vision.

Multi-sensory observation of nature has mental health benefits, and is a way to include all kinds of learners. It can also act as a gateway into other learning opportunities and personal development. It is an ideal subject for boosting the confidence of quieter students, as they can easily gain first-hand personal expertise in this fascinating topic.

Each day of the course builds on the previous one, from introducing the concepts to hands-on field-based activities, to the creative treatment of a species encountered on a field trip, and then to acting on what you have learned. The course takes a place-based learning approach, encouraging engagement with your local wildlife, folklore, community, and citizen science biodiversity recording schemes.

We will focus in particular on insects and the plants that they live on, as these are the most widespread, diverse, and easily accessible study subjects for children. Every dramatic scene you would expect from a nature documentary can be witnessed in miniature in the undergrowth. Students who find insects repulsive are soon converted to bug-saving heroes after they have held one in their hands, drawn its portrait, and gained an understanding of why it is important and what it needs to survive!

Continue reading: Discover the learning outcomes and the tentative schedule of this course.

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Course category: School Innovation

School Innovation: Both students’ needs and institutional demands nowadays change so quickly that is not always easy to keep up with the latest requirements. These courses provide school principals, managers, and teachers with new tools to face an ever-changing society. Our training courses about project management, entrepreneurship, team building, and mentoring will help you make the most of new trends in school administration. You also have the chance to get familiar with the most interesting educational systems in Europe, such as the German VET system, the Finnish school system, or the Italian preschool education. Finally, you can also explore innovative methodologies to foster a more creative and inclusive school environment.

Discover other courses on:

• Environmental Sustainability
• Personal growth
• Positive school environment