Karola Braun-Wanke, Freie Universität Berlin

1. With Support of
Learning & Teaching for
a Sustainable Future
Schools @ University for
Sustainability + Climate Protection
ISCN 2015 Conference
Hongkong, 18th June 2015

2. Karla Braun-Wanke M.A.
Environmental Policy Research Centre
Freie Universität Berlin
www.fu-berlin.de/schueleruni
www.fu-berlin.de/ffu

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Outline
• Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD)
• What is Schools@University
• Objectives
• Topics
• Didactic approach
• Network
• Facts & figures
• Success Factors
• Key Challenges

4. 4
Learning & Teaching for a
Sustainable Future
ISCN conference 2015, Hongkong

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Expanding the Dialogue
ISCN conference 2015, Hongkong

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Education for Sustainable
Development (ESD)
ESD means education that enables people to
foresee, face up to, and solve the problems
that threaten life on our planet.

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Freie Universität Berlin:
An authentic and fascinating learning place

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What is Schools@University?
• Focus on sustainability + climate protection
• Target group:
10-13 year old students and their teachers
• Two one-week programmes a year
• 70 interactive workshops each
• Lecturers from different backgrounds
• ESD trainings for teachers
• Reaches: 2,400 students a year ;
130 teachers (trainings)

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Objectives
• Help children gain in-depth knowledge on
sustainability issues and learn critical thinking skills
• Raise children’s and teacher’s awareness of
sustainability in their daily life
• Empower them to make sustainable changes in their
behaviour
• Encourage teachers to implement the topics and
cross disciplined methods into their curriculum

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Our Sustainability Topics
• Climate change, transition of energy,
energy efficiency & savings
• Food production & agriculture
• Consumption, lifestyle & product design
• Mobility, urban planning & architecture
• Maintenance of biodiversity

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Didactic approach
• Interactive and cross-disciplined workshops
• Age-appropriate teaching based on real-life
experience
• Participation with a wide range of
interactive methods
• Workshop trainers and experts from different
backgrounds

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ESD Network
Lively and trans-disciplinary perspectives
from experts and peers
• Researchers and students
• Regional environmental educators
• Regional energy experts
• Artists from theatre, visual arts,
photography
• Writers and authors
• Fellow students
.

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Learning with Head, Heart & Hands
• Experiments on renewable energies
• Field trips to an ecological farm, botanical garden,
weather garden and energy related facilities
• Art and theatre activities, creative writing,
quizzes, cinema, games, role plays, future labs,
food events, dealing with recycling, resource
conservation, sustainable living and agriculture

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Experiences with renewable energy

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Planning games & future labs
Changing perspectives & finding solutions

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Teacher trainings
Making ESD sustainable in schools

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Facts and figures
12 one-week programmes
640 hand-on workshops
17,000 young students
1,700 teachers
650 teachers at esd trainings
250 schools

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Awards since 2009

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Success Factors
Continuous support from the University,
government and stakeholders
Strong demand and high attendance from the
target groups
High-quality workshops and teacher trainings
based on evaluation and continuous improvement
Growing diversity of interactive Workshops
A media partnership and wide media coverage
Recognition from UNESCO as a esd role model

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Key Challenges
Translating education for sustainable development
into fun and hands-on activities
Transfer of complex topics into age appropriate
workshops
Finding qualified and enthusiastic presenters
Developing a suitable organizational, structural and
logistic framework
Annual challenge to get the third-party financing
Network building between universities, schools,
NGOs and experts

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Example to follow
Handbook Reader

22. 22 ISCN Conference 2015, 18th June, Honkong
Impressions

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Creativ Workshops:
Art meets sustainability
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Insulating a shoebox….
calculating the ecological footprint

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Finding solutions for waste abundance

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Exploring the campus

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Experience climate protection and
Sustainabiltiy with creative writing and arts

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Fascinate and inspiring
workshops and methods

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Karola Braun-Wanke
Environmental Policy Research Centre
Freie Universität Berlin
www.fu-berlin.de/schueleruni
k.braun-wanke@fu-berlin.de
Thanks for your attention!