GreenVET pathway

Professional Development Workshop on Sustainability in Education

A structured, multi-day workshop designed to empower educators with tools, methods, and partnerships for integrating sustainability, permaculture, and environmental education into school curricula.

Key People and Partners Involved

School management
Teaching staff
External environmental NGOs or further training providers

Description of the practice

Organize a professional development workshop focused on sustainability and environmental education for teachers and school staff. Incorporate interactive approaches"like gamification and experiential learning"to deepen understanding of concepts like ecological footprints, healthy ecosystems, and biodiversity.

Engage local environmental experts, community organizations, and sustainability practitioners to provide real-world insights and foster local partnerships. Encourage co-design activities, where educators collaboratively develop lesson plans and school-based projects that bring sustainability themes into classrooms and everyday school life.

This best practice supports ongoing teacher development, promotes cross-disciplinary integration of sustainability topics, and cultivates a culture of environmental responsibility within the school community.

Where it’s being implemented

This link might not lead to content in English language. Use your browser's translate function or automatic captions to explore this resource.

The LivingSTEM teacher workshop in Portici, Italy, was a two-day professional development event focused on sustainability, environmental education, and nature-based learning. Organized by the LivingSTEM project and led by Just One Earth (Valentina Piccioli), with contributions from ENEA expert Ezio Terzini and others, the workshop brought together educators from local schools such as Istituto Comprensivo "Don Peppe Diana." Through hands-on activities, gamified tools, and expert-led sessions, participants explored themes like ecological footprints, permaculture, and sustainable food choices. The initiative aimed to equip teachers with innovative strategies and partnerships to integrate sustainability into their teaching practices and school programs.
https://oer.makingprojects.org/oer/livingstem/

Impact and Results

Greater integration of sustainability topics across various subjects and school activities
Development of a community of practice among educators committed to environmental and sustainability education
Strengthened collaboration between schools and sustainability organizations
Increased competence and confidence among teachers in delivering education for sustainable development

Implementation Tips and Insights

Collaborate with local environmental and research organizations for authentic content.
Ensure follow-up support for teachers to implement new approaches.
Join forces with other VET schools working in the same sector.

Useful Links and Resources

This link might not lead to content in English language. Use your browser's translate function or automatic captions to explore this resource. Climate Fresk is an interactive, science-based workshop that helps teachers understand the causes and consequences of climate change using a collaborative, game-like format. Based on IPCC data, it enables educators to grasp complex climate systems and fosters discussion on solutions. As a professional development tool, it equips teachers with the knowledge and confidence to integrate climate education across subjects and engage students in meaningful environmental learning. Find individual and group workshops here:
https://climatefresk.org/world/
LIVING STEM The LivingSTEM project aims to use the practical experience of permaculture to engage students between the ages of 10 and 14 in scientific subjects, with the aim of fostering the learning of STE(A)M and encouraging them towards a scientific career.
https://www.edulabnet.it/living-stem"