The activities can take place in each individual participating school as well as on the field in the selected location, each school will choose a Reserve (natural, biosphere) from their country, in their vicinity (if so chosen/ if the case may be), based on uniqueness, proximity, any criteria you decide upon.
- The designated purpose is creating a map through which the selected location is personalized on the country's map, through its name as well as regards to species of plants or animals, fish, birds, native wildlife or fauna specific to that certain area and indigenous environment, what makes the location special, why has it been included in the Biosphere/ Natural Reserves list, etc.
In light of a desired proper development of this Project, the following guidelines and steps shall be set, that correspond to the research, observation and action stages:
- Periodical themed trips on the field along a thoroughly well designated calendar - taking into account the year's seasons (ex.: Winter, Spring) so that when the moment comes for the scheduled meeting in Romania the material results of the work can be published in the book project.
- During the field trips on sight 3 fauna and flora sample objectives will be chosen to be monitored / observed (that suffer changes during on a year long basis) throughout the 2 specified seasons. For instance: plant species (flower, tree, shrub, etc from bud to blossom to decay) or 3 different mammals, birds, fish, etc.
- The scientific observation on sight will be accompanied by photos, drawings, posters, flyers, other educational tools at the disposal of the participants (as the case may be, taking the learning aspects home and encouraging cognitive awareness on the matter at hand - artistic representations should be underlined as important, drawings, paintings and such)
- The activities taking place in the natural ambiance as a non-formal education workshop will be completed by cultural aspects, such as a tradition, local custom, recipe, folk mythology, native habits (up to the participants) relating to the flora and fauna target samples chosen prior to this stage
- Studying the economical and social human activities within or in the vicinity of the selected area (tourism and it's ecological and social impact, farming, agricultural and industrial development - if or not sustainable - means of transport and infrastructure). Along with the above mentioned points an emphasis should be put on the life style and ways of the neighboring community, the dependency between it and various if not all elements belonging to the chosen Reserve, pollution factors and their effects.
- Discovering and noting the causes of change in the area/ the natural development (with positive and negative aspects): consistent cutting down of wooded areas, desertification, flooding, soil and/ or water pollution (analysis can undergo in school laboratories where possible), hydraulic harnessing and its effects on the landscape, environmental migration patterns, others
- Completing and adding to the information already acquired and processed, by arranged meetings with specialists in the field (extracurricular sphere activity) from: the Reserve Administration and/ or Office, Natural Sciences Museum, other governmental institutions responsible for the selected location, field NGO-s, subsequent similar institutions in the other participating countries, paralleled environmental action establishments and platforms (as the case may be)
All of these activities will take place under the strict supervision and a step-by-step, where needed, guidance of primarily the teachers involved in the Project and secondary, the other specialists in conservation efforts that join the Project schematic at certain stages through out it's framework. The teachers will observe the students behavior before the beginning of the Project (starting a progress sheet) and from then on note changes taking place during the Project and marking changes in attitude and behavior at the conclusion of the two months of work:
- If they became more responsible (with themselves and their own actions and towards the environment)
- If they learned something from the 3 sample targets studied, such as : cooperation (between at times completely different entities), co-dependency and working together for mutual benefits, harmony, circular action-reaction patterns, sustainability, the importance of support and friendship, cause and indirect effects, etc
- If there are answers to the following questions: are the students showing increased empathy, are they more open to educational assimilation (where was this more effective, location and time wise), did they develop critical thinking, constructive ideas, are they more open to dialogue, etc.
Technical requirements for book-project:
*Work language: English
*Deadline: 12th of April, 2015
*Visual representations (pictures, graphics, images, posters, flyers, etc.) :
1. should be at least 3 Mp in size
2. should be transmitted as separate files
3. usage rights are to be accounted with
*Number of pages:
should be 10 - 12/ participating country allocated space (including text, visual
representations)
body text should have the size of 12 points
The final assembly and meeting will take place in Romania in June, as well as the book launching ceremony, as before mentioned. The end book-project will also be transmitted and disseminated through the national and international network, as well as to UNESCO's HQ Office in Paris, marking the 70th Anniversary of UNESCO, at the UNESCO General Conference.
Lucretia Baluta
ASPnet National Coordinator