The effects of climate are being felt on all continents and are predicted to become more and more intense, with severe consequences for our economies and societies. To stop climate change from getting worse, the European Commission confirms we must take urgent climate action so that we can adapt to the changes happening now, and in the future, to limit the damage. Understanding the causes, effects and implications of climate change should thus be central to school education. Developing relevant, high quality teaching in schools will be fundamental for the future.
The Teaching The Future project has been inspired by the announcement made by the Italian Ministry of Education that, starting from 2021, a compulsory module on climate change Education would be will be introduced into all Italian schools. Other school education bodies including those in Flanders are also seeking to build a school education model around the understanding of climate and sustainability.
Teaching the Future believes innovative learning approaches afforded by citizen science can provide students with the tools to recognize complex macro-interactions of factors both on a local-to-global perspective and at a cross-disciplinary level. They should be able to make complex reflections on climate challenges, gain interdisciplinary knowledge, ranging from STEM to humanities and language learning. Therefore, teachers should be trained how to embed scientific climate data and digital technologies in an interdisciplinary approach that makes connections between subjects and opens global perspectives.