Call for Participation for STEM Teachers on Capacity Building Workshop for Science Teachers on Climate Change Education

Go Back

Background

With a population of over 210 million, Pakistan is one of the most vulnerable countries to the impacts of climate change in the world. The country is expected to face severe extreme climate events, such as increased variability of monsoons, receding glacial caps, heatwaves, floods and droughts. To address this mammoth challenge, there is an urgent need for the adaptive capacity of communities through adequate science education and enabling citizens to make informed decisions in the context of climate change.

Science education plays a vital role to prepare societies for the future global challenges, including the climate change. Climate science education can be one of the essential components and a catalyst in deescalating the rate of climate change by raising awareness, promoting evidence-based research and knowledge. The climate change issues can be effectively dealt with a policy framework and political determination only if the decisions are based on scientific research data and rational judgment.

Today, the world faces enormous challenges and it will be extremely difficult for us to protect our environment and adapt to the climate change, improve our lives and feed our growing population, if we cannot invest in our children and youth. Therefore, we must provide students with requisite scientific skillsets at schools to expand their knowledge of climate science and empower them with right tools to protect this planet.

Rationale

The Paris Climate Agreement 2015 encourages countries to promote and develop educational, training and public awareness programmes on climate change for a wider public discourse. Integrating climate change education into science curriculum is the most important step for strengthening climate change adaptation and mitigation. Unfortunately, the quality of basic science education being offered at schools in Pakistan is poor because of a number of reasons, which often does not develop the rational thinking among students. This demands us to do a tremendous amount of work to boost scientific literacy in the country.

A few countries have already undertaken possible measures to include a number of aspects of climate change in school curricula and in their respective national development agendas. For instance, the La main à la pâte (LAMAP) Foundation is a French organization based in Paris with a primary intent to improve the quality of teaching of science through inquiry-based approach at schools. LAMAP recently launched the Office of Climate Education (OCE) in Paris. The OCE aims to create a ‘Global network of climate education’ that raises the awareness of school children on the topic of climate change through interactive tools and research-based learning.

Considering the urgent need for capacity building of science educators in Climate Change Education, the Sukkur IBA University in collaboration with ECO Science Foundation (ECOSF) and Pakistan National Commission for UNESCO (PNCU) are planning to organize 5 days Training Workshop on Climate Change Education through Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) on March 28, 2022 - April 1, 2022 in Islamabad.

The training will employ the Inquiry Based Science Education (IBSE) pedagogy, which adopts an investigative approach to teaching and learning. It is well recognized that IBSE is an effective tool for catalyzing Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics (STEM) education. IBSE methodology develops and strengthens students’ skills of observation, asking questions, planning and conducting investigations, reviewing evidence in the light of what is already known, which leads to drawing conclusions and communicating the results.

Purpose of the training:

This training is primarily intended for young science teachers, especially women and teachers from marginalized areas of the country. The prime purpose of this training is to produce a cadre of science teachers who can effectively deliver training programmes on climate change education for their peers using IBSE pedagogy.

Workshop Content:

• The workshop will cover topics such as climate change, greenhouse effect, environmental pollution, sustainable energy and energy efficiency, adult learning, developing confidence and competence, developing motivation and coaching.

• This capacity building workshop will enable them to understand better on adult learning methodologies and enhance their skills, knowledge and competency.

• Trained science teachers will be able to apply current facilitative skills that will promote learner engagement, show mastery in delivering key training strategies such as brainstorming and practice sessions.

• IBSE has been widely recognized as an effective approach to teaching science and has been given priority by InterAcademy Partnership Science Education Program (IAP SEP) in its efforts at improving science education across the globe.

Aims and objectives of the Workshop:

1. To sensitize trainers on issues of climate change using IBSE as an approach to teaching climate change education;
2. To include climate change in teacher education (e.g. disaster risk reduction education, and aspects of policy planning and implementation) to ensure science educators can effectively communicate its significance to students;
3. To provide professional development opportunities for school teachers to ensure up to date knowledge about the climate change;
4. To enhance skills, understanding and competency of science teachers in IBSE in adult learning methodologies and understanding of scientific phenomena of climate change;
5. To enhance skills, understanding and competency of science teachers in order to assist teachers in implementing the approach; and
6. To provide the science teachers a solid framework for delivering training on climate change education.

Eligibility Criteria

• Bachelors of Science (16 years) in any STEM related subjects
• Age: 35 years and less with over 5-7 years of teaching experience in any STEM Subjects. Female teachers are encouraged to apply
• Eligible out-stationed participants will be provided accommodation, meals and transportation allowance (equal to road/bus fare)
• Only qualified and shortlisted candidates will be invited for the participation. Successful candidates will be notified by March 21st, 2022.

Mode of Delivery:

The training workshop will be delivered by using the combination of the following methods:

1. Series of lectures
2. Group discussions and presentations
3. Case Studies
4. Hands-on-activities and experiments

Partner Institutions

Sukkur IBA University (SIBAU) is a public sector degree awarding Institution approved by Higher Education Commission located in Sukkur, Pakistan. SIBAU as a main organizer will prepare workshop brochure in consultation with ECO Science Foundation, announce the workshop on its website and announce call for participation, process applications, shortlist applications, send out invitation letters to successful participants and organization. It will prepare the programmes schedule, list the materials and resources required and conduct the programme.

Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF) based in Islamabad Pakistan, is an intergovernmental organization and specialized agency of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO). ECOSF was established in 2011 with a mandate to promote scientific and technological research and education with an end goal to raise socio-economic standing of 10 member states; Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

How to register?

Interested and eligible candidates are highly encouraged to submit their application at www.ecosf.org/signup.aspx by March 18th, 2022.