Sustainability 24/7

"The project was aimed at developing students’ perspective and their reflection on Learning in a Global World. Students within the 16-19 age range reached an international level and experience by way of project work and intercultural communication, exchanges and mobilities. We intended to address the topic of sustainability from diverse and varied angles, and how it affected the students' daily lives now and in the future. This was achieved through the joint efforts of students and their teachers on five overall themes, related to sustainability. The five themes started out with activities at the home school leading up to mobilities and a workshop. All workshops consisted of students’ presentations and science lab work in cooperation with external local partners, e.g. universities, museums, industry and the media. The five partner countries took responsibility for one workshops each. The 5 themes was 'Renewable forms of energy' (IS), 'Advertising-communication campaigns' (DE), 'Biotechnology' (DK), 'Waste and recycling (AT) and 'Saving energy' (FR).We decided to involve a wide range of subjects, from technology and biotechnology, biology and chemistry to history, and social studies to cover as many angles of the theme, as possible. The crossovers between the five school's study lines enhanced the student’s motivation and involvement in their schools curriculums.The project focused on the students working together on research, use of data logging, practical work, lab work, Virtual Learning Environments, visits, field trips and face-to-face contact. Each theme resulted in products and shared knowledge through ICT.The project used the pedagogical approach of portfolio for self-evaluation and a virtual learning environment, web site and blogs.Teachers planned jointly and tried out teaching approaches used by the partner institution. We focused on using new digital methods of learning, e.g. virtual labs, data logging, on-line data sharing and communication. All institutions have an overall aim to improve learning processes and achievements in science related subjects, such as technology, chemistry and biotechnology. The National Ministries emphasise the need for better results in science related subjects and the focus on these. The schools agreed upon the topic of sustainability, because it is something that has public and national attention in all European countries and because the European Union has committed themselves to very ambitious climate and energy targets for 2020. These targets, known as the ""20--20"" targets, set three key objectives for 2020:•A 20% reduction in EU greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels;•Raising the share of EU energy consumption produced from renewable resources to 20%;•A 20% improvement in the EU's energy efficiency.The general aim of the project was to raise awareness about the importance of adopting sustainable habits and behaviors. We aimed at making our students feel more concerned about these issues, and make them more eco-responsible citizens. Hereby we experienced that the students realized some problems concerning sustainability can be dealt with on a local and even personal level. The students also developed a sense of how they can convince others to act in a sustainable way."