The V-GeoSciEd Erasmus Plus project is designed to address issues concerning diversity and inclusion in European Geography and Science Education. Both subjects have to face the challenge of diversity and inclusion particularly with respect to environmental and sustainability issues, which are key social concerns.
The V-GeoSciEd project aims to promote an inclusive approach that considers diversity in the context of education for sustainability in geography and science education (Objective 1).
It also aims to develop digital tools to support science and geography teachers in considering diversity when teaching and educating for sustainability, thus making it more inclusive (Objective 2).
Additionally, the project aims to enable science and geography teachers to incorporate diversity and inclusion into their teaching within the framework of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) (Objective 3).
The project’s objectives are closely aligned with the Erasmus Plus program’s priorities concerning teacher training in digital innovative content and practices, as well as education for sustainability.
For Objective 1, Work Package 2 (WP2) will lead to the creation of two online videos addressing challenges related to diversity and inclusion in geography and science education. These videos will be collaboratively developed following a review of training and teaching practices in geography and science.
An analysis of the state of the art will enable teacher trainers and trainee teachers to be made aware of the issues involved in taking account of diversity and inclusion in geography and science education, and a guide will be produced for geography and science trainers and teachers.
The second work package (WP2) will facilitate the achievement of objective 2: Development of digital tools (e.g. Virtual Field Trips) to support science and geography teachers in addressing diversity in sustainability education and making it more inclusive. WP2 will develop an innovative approach to integrating diversity into geography and science education to make it more inclusive in the context of sustainability education. This innovative approach is based on the use of virtual field trips in teacher training. To this end, seven virtual field trips focusing on sustainability and/or climate change issues will be improved. Pedagogical material will be developed to help use these virtual visits in teacher training, and online toolkit to support teacher trainers and trainees to diversity and inclusion in geography and geographer.
The third work package (WP3) will enable the accomplishment of the third objective: Enabling science and geography teachers to develop a diversity and inclusion approach to teaching. Two training courses will be held to test and improve the model developed in WP2 and the material developed in WP3. The first training course is intended for teacher educators and the second for pre- and in- service teachers studying in higher education (universities or teacher training institution). These two training courses will help to develop the Showcase of Best Practices.