Virtual Reality based educational approach in tackling of Climate Change

"<< Background >>First of all, we performed surveys, for rang of introduction of Climate Change in education processin the partner countries. The surveys showed that besides this issue is addressed in formal education, traditional educational methods which are used for teaching of this topic offers mainly basic theoretical acknowledgement, usually with old facts.Using of VR in education process is advanced education approach, which multiple times is overcoming the potential of traditional educational methods, and education systems must accept and accommodate on this fact. Recent decreasing of the prices of necessary Virtual Reality equipment makes this innovative educational approach acceptable to many educational institution on primary as well as on secondary level. With stimulation of teachers to accept the new methodology and with appropriated training programs in increasing of their skills and competences in using VR equipment and VR education software, all necessary pre-requests will be met.The needs we addressed were learning more and increasing knowledge about clime changes among students, increasing capacity of using ICT in regular classes among students and teachers, using inovative pedagogical metod by introducing VR in lecturing.<< Objectives >>Our main aim - to support awareness-raising about environmental and climate-change challenges, has been achieved. Our planned activities gave support to the testing of innovative practices (educational approach based on Virtual Reality software) to prepare children and school teachers to become true factors of change. New educational approach met the needs of school children (12 to 14 years age) to increase their overall acknowledgement about tackling of the Climate change phenomenon and to inspire them to take a real actions in „real life“ (e.g. saving resources, reduce energy use and waste, compensate carbon footprint emissions, increasing use of renewable energy sources, environment friendly transportation, etc.). Teachers have accomplished their skills and competencies about environment protection and together with pupils became true factors of change.Within the project implementation we also thought more widely. The project did not have an impact only on present schools' students, but with trained teachers, and developed VR-based education approach, ensured that also of students in the next generations will have the opportunity to be educated by using the innovative approach based on VR. << Implementation >>Within the project implementation we have implemented the following activities.-Development of an innovative ICT-based educational approach to increase student interest using Virtual Reality (free online virtual reality software and completely newly designed and created educational software related to climate change challenge and developed in Virtual Reality) that was enable students to understand adaptation strategies and climate change mitigation with a significant increase in their digital competencies.-Short-term training events for school teachers on how to use virtual reality equipment and educational software based on virtual reality in their daily lessons and blended mobility where students who were part of the wining teams in the schools compete in mixed transnational teams.-Long term teaching/learning assignment for students in primary school in using OER and VR-based educational software.-Organization of transnational project meetings for project management and monitoring of the realized project activities. -Organization of multiplier events.-Creating Intelectual outputs.<< Results >>Following Concrete project results have been achieved:-Development and adoption of three Project Results; IO1- Handbook for schools teachers: ""Introducing of Climate Change related topics in STEM orientated school subjects"", IO2 - Virtual reality based educational software related with Climate Change topics and IO3- Document for establishing of long-term strategic partnership among different type of organisation for improvement of the educational processes in the regions of Velenje (Slovenia), Syros - Greece; Ludbreg - Croatia and Kochani – North Macedonia.- 16 school teachers with increased skills and competencies for using VR technology;-Established transnational teachers network (40 teachers from all four schools became familiar with the use of the eTwinning network module).-143 children from four schools with increased competences and skills for using VR technology in the learning process; as well as with increased acknowledgment for tackling of Climate Change phenomenon; -Created Project website with best practices from project activities and with included created IOs which is available to teachers from other schools as well as for any other interested stakeholders on local, regional, national level; - 197 relevant stakeholders have become familiar with advantages that new developed educational approach is offering versus traditional teaching methods /participants on each of the National multiplier events in Greece, Croatia, and North Macedonia as well as on the Final Project Conference in Slovenia).-An innovative ICT-based educational approach to increase student interest using Virtual Reality (free online virtual reality software and completely newly designed and created educational software related to climate change challenge and developed in Virtual Reality)."