Building an Eco-Friendly Future with Robots

<< Background >>It is no secret that there is a lot of discussion around the world about global environmental problems that have accumulated around us and affect the future of the world. Similarly, new, up-to-date, and innovative teaching methods are also a growing issue. For the most part, it can be said that the learning process begins in preschool, with both innovative teaching methods and an initial understanding of environmental protection. This project was initiated with the aim of combining globally significant environmental awareness issues with the preschool education process and the educational potential of robotics for young learners, all of which could be incorporated into inquiry-based learning, bringing it together in learning model. In order to implement changes at the preschool education level, it is necessary to start with the adults who develop, plan, and manage this learning process for young children, which is why the most important target audience is preservice and current preschool teachers. << Objectives >>The aim of the GREENCODE project was to improve the skills and training opportunities of pre-service preschool teachers in order to equip them withthe necessary skills to stimulate children's interest in the future world and develop their environmental awareness. The project focused on strengthening the capacity of the education sector to provide high-quality environmental education and algorithmic thinking trainingusing educational robotics at the preschool level in partner countries.<< Implementation >>Project partners in all member countries met with pre-service and in-service preschool and ICT teachers in various events, such as focus groups and discussions, roundtable meetings and workshops, and collected data, teachers' opinions, insights, and experiences, promoting the exchange of information that was later used in the development of the project results. The literature review also supported the content development process, based on both individual and team contributions. The effectiveness of the project results was tested in a pilot process in which 97 preschool teacher students were trained. In countries where no pilot activities were carried out, the materials were distributed to universities and existing preschool teachers, (more than 50 teachers in Germany, Ireland, Turkey, and Italy). Volunteer teachers were encouraged to use the teaching materials in their teaching practice.The materials were also tested in several events and in several preschool institutions, together with children and with the support of preschool teachers. << Results >>Concrete outputs and results of the Greencode project that were delivered:1. Preparing Future Educators: a Digital Handbook on Robotics and Environmental Education2. Preparing Future Educators: a Higher Education Course Curriculum on Robotics and Environmental Education3. Preparing Future Educators: Lesson Plans - Supporting the Higher Education Course Curriculum onRobotics and Environmental Education4. Activity Book - Educational Robotics and Environmental Education in Early Childhood Education & Activity Book: Printable pages5. Video Tutorials for Preservice Teachers and Current Teachers: 1) Inquiry-based Learning Approach 2) Creating Eco Friendly Habits 3) Creating Engaging Contexts 4) Algorithmic Thinking 5) Learning Robots and Spatial Skills (The project's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GreencodeProject)6. Dream City: Set of Cards & Manual of the Set of Cards for Storytelling with Educational RoboticsAll results have also been published on the project website (https://www.greencodeproject.com/).