Category Archives: schools

Where do teachers find the resources for teaching Climate change?

19 January 2025climate, Project, research, schools, toolsKarl Donert

Climate change is one of the most pressing issues of our time, and teachers play a crucial role in educating the next generation about it. However, with the vast amount of information available online, it can be challenging for teachers to find reliable and accurate sources of information on climate change.

Research undertaken in preparation for the TECCHED project showed that most teachers rely on television reports and social media to get information on climate change, however unbiased reporting is not very common on many new channels and there have been many disinformation and misinformation campaigns spread on social media.

FInd out more about these issues.

To address this challenge, many teachers turn to trusted sources such as government agencies, scientific organisations, and educational institutions. For example, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has a website called Climate.gov that provides a wealth of information on climate science, including articles, data, and multimedia resources. Teachers can use this website to access reliable and up-to-date information on climate change to incorporate into their lessons. The European Commission has an EU Science Hub on climate change and has established the EU Climate Pact to encourage people to build a more sustainable Europe.

The Climate Action Network (CAN) Europe is Europe’s leading NGO coalition. It aims to fight dangerous climate change misinformation. It has more than 170 member organisations active in 38 European countries, representing in excess of 1.500 NGOs and more than 47million citizens, CAN Europe promotes sustainable climate, energy and development policies throughout Europe.

The European Climate Foundation (ECF) is a major philanthropic initiative working to help tackle the climate crisis by fostering the development of a net-zero emission society at the national, European, and global level. The ECF supports over 700 partner organisations to carry out activities that drive urgent and ambitious policy in support of the objectives of the Paris Agreement, contribute to the public debate on climate action, and help deliver a socially responsible transition to a net-zero economy and sustainable society in Europe and around the world.

Another source of information is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which is an organisation that brings together scientists and policymakers from around the world to assess the state of knowledge on climate change. The IPCC produces reports that summarise the latest research on climate change and its impacts, which teachers can use to stay informed and incorporate into their curriculum.

Educational institutions such as universities and research centres are also valuable sources of information for teachers. They often have specialised departments or programs dedicated to climate science that provide access to cutting-edge research and resources for teachers to use in their classrooms.

In addition to these sources, there are also numerous non-profit organisations that focus on climate education, such as the Climate Reality Project and Action for Climate Emergency. These organisations offer a range of resources, including lesson plans, webinars, and professional development opportunities, to help teachers incorporate climate education into their curriculum.

By staying informed and up-to-date on the latest research and information, teachers can help their students understand the science behind climate change and the importance of taking action to address it.using the TECCHED interactive e-book

Find out more about learning, tools, resources and information from the TECCHED Learning Platform

TECCHED Meeting with Ege University Pre-service Teachers

27 November 2024climate, event, Project, schoolsKarl Donert

The TECCHED (Technology-Enhanced Curriculum Design for Climate Change) enriched book, an output of technology-enhanced climate change education, was introduced to over 100 pre-service teachers and faculty members at Ege University. During the event, the TECCHED team presented the content, purpose, and structure of the enriched book and shared two sample lesson plans.

Providing information about the book’s content, Ege University Faculty of Education faculty-member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bahadır Namdar stated the following:
“The TECCHED enriched book consists of four different learning modules: causes of climate change, impacts of climate change, mitigation and adaptation strategies. The topics are reinforced with the questions at the end of each module. Every module consists of approximately five units, and evaluation questions are asked at the end of each unit.”. Visit the learning modules

“The international TECCHED project, supported by the European Union and involving Ege University and Bitlis Eren University from Turkey, is carried out in partnership with Ruse University from Bulgaria, Liepaja University from Latvia, Vytautas Magnus University from Lithuania, EOLAS from Spain and EUROGEO from Belgium.

With TECCHED (Technology Enhanced Curriculum Design on Climate Change), the pedagogical competencies of the faculty members are enhanced to teach the importance of character and values in mitigating the effects of climate change. These prospective teachers are expected to transfer their skills to future students and create change.”

The participants were then given ample time to explore the content of the enriched book. The lesson plans placed particular emphasis on ‘character and values’. After examining the enriched book, the participants shared their ideas and suggestions. Find out more about the enriched book

Using a climate data dashboard in schools

12 September 2024case study, climate, data, schools, toolsKarl Donert

Climate data is a crucial resource we should use in education, its visualisation enhances understanding and engagement with complex environmental issues.

The Teaching the Future project has provided access to authentic original climate data using global datasets from scientists and the latest European data from the Copernicus project.

There are several key aspects that teachers and educators should consider:
Enhanced Understanding: Climate data is often vast and complex, encompassing various parameters at different spatial scales. Visual representations, from data dashboards, offers graphs, charts, and maps, which help simplify this complexity, making patterns and trends more discernible. Students can quickly grasp the progression of climate change, which might be less apparent through raw data alone.
Engagement and Retention: Visual aids capture attention and make learning more interactive. Educational psychology suggests that visual learning can significantly enhance memory retention. When students see data in a visual format showing rising global temperatures, they are more likely to remember and understand these concepts. Data from climate models and simulations further increase engagement by allowing students to consider the future and potential outcomes.
Critical Thinking and Analysis: Visualising climate data encourages critical thinking. Students learn to interpret data, identify trends, and draw conclusions. Students can explore cause-and-effect relationships between human activities and climate change. This analytical skill helps in developing informed opinions and considering solutions.
Communication and Advocacy: Effective communication of climate science is essential for public awareness and policy advocacy. Visual data is a powerful communication tool that transcends language barriers and can be understood by a wide audience. Students experienced in visualising and interpreting climate data are better equipped to convey complex information succinctly and persuasively.
Real-World Applications: Incorporating climate data visualisation in education prepares students for real-world challenges. Many professions increasingly rely on data visualisation to inform decisions and strategies. By mastering these skills early, students can contribute meaningfully to addressing climate change in their future careers.

Visualising climate data is therefore fundamental to enhance comprehension, engagement, critical thought and communication skills. The data dashboards transform abstract data into meaningful insights, empowering students to understand and address the pressing issue of climate change.

Access the Climate Data Dashboards

A training module is available to help you and your students navigate the data.