<< Background >>Education and training was a key aspect (and still is) of the 2020 Europe Strategy which aims to promote knowledge, quality educatin, social cohesion, active citizenship and equity. This project was based in the need of the support in the educational transition and the support of teachers in implementing innovative pedagogies to promote the transition and peer to peer learning, mitigating school leaving.The base was to use a model in which students take part in promoting the continuation of education in other stages, helping with the transition from one level to the next. For doing this, several aspects had to be taken into account such as: preparation, readjustment to the new situation, it also entails a change of environment and a certain rupture; transformations and adaptation processes with consequences in the future (demand for autonomy of learning, self-control in the classroom, greater responsibility, etc.).Moreover, it was necessary to focus on teachers needs and resources, to train them on how it can be done, to support them and accompany them and the students in the process. Finally, it was important to focus on the different education systems, making sure the project could be integrated in several countries.<< Objectives >>OBJECTIVESThe project had three specific objectives linked to the priorities of the Erasmus+:1) Improve the educational transition based on increasing the level of key competences through the participation of students in the search for alternatives to get better river management (priority 1).2) Support the professional development of teachers through pedagogical resources based on the learning opportunities offered by rivers (priority 2).3) Establish effective partnerships between schools and stakeholders (municipalities, companies, NGOs ...) that promote educational innovation and the recovery of natural spaces.<< Implementation >>The learning, training and teaching activities were:C1. Short-term joint staff training events in Spain (that it was finally done online due to COVID)C2. Short-term exchange of groups of pupils in Portugal C3. Short-term joint staff training events in ItalyIn addition, a variety of activities were performed by the schools in the implementation of the project such as: water analysis, river restoration, river fauna and flora, river art, etc. All the activities implemented can also be found in the Intellectual Output 1 and Intellectual Output 2.Other virtual activities were organized to promote the interaction among the schools and the students, such as the virtual activity for the Water International Day related with the topic of the project.Finally, a total of three Multiplier Events were performed.<< Results >>The main results financed in this project were:O1. Pedagogical material for school teachers: The river as a learning space.O2. Guide for river “ambassadors”.O3. Educational Transit Guide.Moreover, as there were two outputs that were not financed, the project partners decided to work on them and use them as dissemination videos. The 'O4: video pills' can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkrAyXxp1e4. Moreover, other videos to support the learning of fluvial environments can also be retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tEu777ucd0M&t=2s & https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGgasCP_aGI In addition, another video focused on the topics of 'O5: good teaching practices' was also created for social networks. It can be found at: https://www.instagram.com/tv/Cb7x605Iqzd/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

"The GrEAT project is based on the need of making students, teachers & educators aware of the opportunities offered by the “green” sector, in particular in this time of economic crisis & decreasing job opportunities representing a challenge for the future of young people. Moreover, due to climate change, pushing forward more sustainable & environmentally friendly jobs is an asset. To this respect, it is necessary to provide both students & teachers/educators with high quality “green” competences, by means of school education, connections with “green” companies, knowledge of the necessary skills to build a career in the sector, awareness of problems & opportunities of the green sector.The main project objectives are:> to promote the exchange of good practices regarding job opportunities offered by the “green” sector & dedicated educational methodologies;> to enhance the skills of students, teachers & school placement workers relevant to job & career opportunities in the “green” sector;> to map the educational & professional chances related to job opportunities in the “green” sector;> to connect students with the labour market in Europe, providing contacts & experiences in innovative companies of “green economy” sector.These objectives can be achieved only with a heterogeneous & multidisciplinary partnership, so GrEAT consortium includes 6 organizations from 4 EU countries: an Association working with youngsters & a NGO specialized in environmental topics & green economy (ES); a professional training institute (FR); an high-school (HR); a research center on green issues & a company specialized in EU projects proposal and management, engaged in environmental issues & school education (IT).The project activities last 24 months (02/10/2017 to 01/10/2019) & consists of:Mapping of potential public & private sector actors active in green economy in the project territories (O1);Creation of materials related to professional profiles identified as “green jobs”: short videos made by students, telling success stories & good practices in the ""green economy"" sector (A2);Creation of teaching modules & materials for upper secondary school teachers related to the diffusion of ""green"" jobs (O2);International training of teachers concerning education & work in the “green” sector (C1);Activities in schools, supported by local actors of the green sector (A3);Creation of 5 promotional videos to promote job opportunities offered by the ""green"" sector (O3);International training of students to learn good practices related to the ""green"" sector in other countries (C2);Facilitation of the dialogue between the sectors of education & ""green economy"" employment, also in terms of ""school-to-work"" exchange programs, for the creation & consolidation of partnerships between these two sectors (A4);University orientation programs, giving upper secondary school students a better understanding of the opportunities offered by universities to prepare to work in the ""green economy"" sector (A5);Drafting of final recommendations on the potential - in terms of education, work & career - of the ""green economy” (O4);Communication & dissemination actions (A6-A9);Organization of 4 regional seminars and 1 International Conference for the dissemination of the Intellectual Outputs & other project activities (E1-E5).Those activities requires a deeply innovative methodology in this sector, the method of the storytelling that, replacing classic teaching methods, put the students in the center of the activities & gives them the opportunity to build & tell their own stories & to have more effective contacts with the green jobs sector.The expected results are:> Achievement of better knowledge and more effective teaching tools related to the “green economy” sector for students, teachers and other subjects of teaching, who will be more aware of the career opportunities offered by the “green jobs” sector in Europe and will be able to use the acquired experience to promote these opportunities to other students and friends;> Creation and reinforcement of connections between “green economy” operators and enterprises and local schools, in particular those with teaching courses about the “green” sector. Those linkages can lead to stronger interactions between schools and enterprises, finalized to a better cooperation between private and public sector and to the definition of educational programs that better match the requests of an innovative sector such as the green jobs one;> Greater awareness of concepts such as sustainability & environmental protection, which in the long run can lead to a better quality of life & career opportunities in Europe.Beyond the end of the project, long-term benefits will be:• Increased collaboration between schools & innovative and green enterprises;• Stronger linkages with Universities that offer courses related to the green economy;• Stronger attitude to green sectors for teachers & students of involved schools."

"CONTEXTAfter the outbreak of the COVID-19 in December 2019 and its spread in Europe, education institutions such as high schools or primary schools had to close their doors and try online education with the few resources they had in hand. Schools and other educational institutions had opened their doors again for the academic year 2020/2021, but there is a growing concern about a future wave of the coronavirus and shutting the schools doors again for a longer period of time. Not only that, but some upper secondary schools or higher education institutions have decided to work with a semi-presencial methodology in order to minimise health risks, without knowing very well how the students will adapt to this new method. This has created a great need for modernisation within education and training systems across Europe and this project aims to provide a tool for this void.OBJECTIVESInside the school readiness, the GETUP! project has identified three objectives that can be accomplished with the development of the project:1. Innovative and digital gamification as an educational tool for upper schools on Parks and environment.2. Promotion of biodiversity protection and natural parks as relevant social and educational value of European cultural heritage, with strong connections to job creation and economic growth.3. Strengthening the profile of the teaching professions with new skills and knowledge in Digital tools and gamification.PARTICIPANTSRegarding the organisation that participated in the project, we have created a partnership with 8 partners and a total of 5 European countries involved in it:1. eco&eco: (Italy) a company in the field of economic research and consultancy for the management and interpretation of local resources.2. InEuropa srl: (Italy) it works in EU projects with the aim of supporting public and private bodies in accessing European Financial opportunities. It also provides technical assistance in the design and management stage, as well as implementing and assisting in education & training, youth, culture, environment and social issues.3. IES BOTÀNIC CAVANILLES: (Spain) A secondary education school that has an extensive knowledge in students mobilities, but also has a deep concern for environment education.4. DNAMAR COMPUTERS SP ZOO: (Poland) it is private company providing training and ICT solutions for various sectors and for all age groups.5. ENTE DI GESTIONE PER I PARCHI E LA BIODIVERSITÀ EMILIA OCCIDENTALE “PARKS AND BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY - WESTERN EMILIA"": (Italy) it is a public authority which deals with nature conservation.6. GYMNASIUM KAROL Štúra: (Slovakia) it is a secondary grammar school and general education7. ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY OF ICELAND: (Iceland) the Environment Agency operates under the direction of the Ministry for the Environment. It's role is to promote the protection as well as sustainable use of Iceland’s natural resources, as well as public welfare by helping to ensure a healthy environment, and safe consumer goods.8. LOW CARBON ECONOMY FOUNDATION - (Spain) It is the project coordinator, with experience in environmental education, innovative methods for education and sustainability, and project management.ACTIVITIES AND METHODOLOGYGET UP! can be divided in three phases: the first will be the initial development of the project for research about the environment and the knowledge to be transmitted to schools. The second will be how to apply this knowledge in environmental education through gamification, merging everything into a learning game, as well as creating a space for knowledge transference among teachers/professors, and involving the students actively in the project. The final phase will be once the project is finished, to sustain it and update information to keep it working.Linked to these phases, there are five IOs (the first two IOs will take place during the first phase and the three last outputs during the second phase):- IO1: Global and Local Environmental Scenarios Report- IO2: Local Protected Areas and Nature protection Scenario Report- IO3: The use of gaming in Environmental Education - Guidelines- IO4: Digital Educational tool on parks and environment- IO5: We really GET UP! Guidelines for students to become “Parks and Nature Ambassadors”The LTTAs that will take place in the second phase are:- C1: Educational Training on gamification and digital tools for teachers (short-term joint staff training event)- C2: Setting up of the Educational tool (short-term joint staff training event)- C3: Field visit and experimental application of the method (short-term exchange of groups of students)RESULTS AND IMPACTIt is expected that the GET UP! project will contribute to environmental education, school readiness, modernisation in education methodologies, and European cultural awareness. Its impact will be mainly in the education field, but also in institutions related with environment and EdTech."