Eco-Art and Sustainability

Course overview

This immersive 5-day course is designed to empower educators with the knowledge and skills needed to seamlessly integrate eco-art practices into their teaching methodologies. In our ever-evolving world, the need for environmental consciousness has never been more urgent, and this course recognizes the pivotal role educators play in shaping the minds of tomorrow. Eco-art is the key to unlocking a deeper understanding of ecological principles and fostering a generation of environmental stewards.

Participants will engage in a dynamic exploration of how art can be a force for positive change in nature and discover innovative ways to engage students in meaningful conversations about pressing environmental issues, from climate change to resource depletion. Through a hands-on approach, participants will learn about different teaching methods and useful tools to incorporate eco-art across various educational subjects.

By using recycled materials and natural resources, participants will have the opportunity to collaborate through various hands-on, project-based activities and workshops that encourage creativity. The activities will focus on the web of interrelationships and actions in our environment that threaten our natural resources – soil, atmosphere, and water.

This eco-art course aims to inspire teachers and encourage a long-term relationship between social structures and natural environments through communication, participation, and education. Education is the key factor in helping students understand the value of our planet and the importance of conserving resources through future activism and community-based interventions.

Tentative schedule:

Day 1: Introduction to eco-art and environmental stewardship

  • Icebreakers and networking activities
  • Introduction to the course and participants
  • Overview of the course methodology and expectations
  • Exploring the importance of eco-art in education
  • Understanding the role of art in fostering environmental awareness
  • Group discussions: Sharing personal experiences and challenges in teaching environmental topics

Day 2: Hands-on eco-art practices and sustainable materials

  • Introduction to eco-art techniques and sustainable materials
  • Hands-on workshops: Creating eco-art projects using recycled and natural materials
  • Exploring the web of interrelationships and actions in our environment

Day 3: Integrating eco-art into educational settings

  • Pedagogical approaches for incorporating eco-art across different subjects
  • Developing lesson plans and activities that promote environmental consciousness
  • Cultural visit (e.g. museum, heritage site) guided in English to explore local heritage and sustainability practices
  • Post-visit activities: Incorporating cultural elements and sustainable practices into eco-art projects

Day 4: Community engagement and eco-art initiatives

  • Successful eco-art initiatives and their impact on communities and the environment
  • Strategies for initiating and supporting eco-art initiatives in local communities
  • Hands-on workshops: Designing community-based eco-art projects

Day 5: Empowering environmental stewardship through eco-art

  • Promoting responsible consumption and waste reduction through eco-art
  • Fostering environmental responsibility and conscious decision-making in students
  • Presentations: Participants showcase examples of their eco-art projects and lesson plans
  • Course evaluation and feedback
  • Certification ceremony

The classes typically run from 9 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon, with the afternoon and evening reserved for self-reflection and individual study. However, the course schedule may be adjusted to accommodate the preferences of the participants and the availability of instructors or external learning locations. Participants will receive the finalized schedule well in advance, allowing ample time for preparation and planning.

Learning outcomes:

The participants will be able to:

  • Integrate eco-art and green practices into various educational settings through comprehensive pedagogical approaches.
  • Develop hands-on skills enabling immediate implementation of creative and eco-conscious activities in classrooms.
  • Foster a heightened sense of environmental responsibility in students, empowering them to make conscious choices in their daily lives.
  • Analyze successful eco-art initiatives, gaining insights into how to initiate positive change in communities and the environment.
  • Design innovative teaching approaches that infuse creativity and sustainability into traditional classrooms, enhancing student engagement.
  • Implement responsible consumption and waste reduction practices through the use of sustainable resources, influencing both educators and students.
  • Develop strategies to initiate and support eco-art initiatives contributing positively to local communities and the broader environment.
  • Collaborate with fellow educators to share best practices, strategies, and resources for integrating eco-art into educational settings.
  • Incorporate cultural elements and inspiration from local heritage and sustainable practices into their eco-art projects and teaching methodologies.
  • Evaluate their own teaching practices and develop an action plan for continuous improvement in promoting environmental stewardship through eco-art.

Course fee:

  • 400 euro per participant (covered entirely by the Erasmus grant)

Course fee includes:

  • At least 25 hours of course content;
  • Course materials;
  • Certificate of participation;
  • Europass, on request;
  • Learning / Mobility Agreement;
  • Visits to local institutions, if available;
  • Personalized support;
  • Free high-speed WIFI internet at the POU Čakovec premises;
  • Refreshments;
  • Administration costs;
  • Dissemination materials.
Skip to content