E-course for the MARLISCO educational material on marine litter to formal & non-formal educators

Introducing the MARLISCO educational material on marine litter
to formal and non formal educators

8 days (16 hrs) E-Course

 DATES: MONDAY 23/06/2014 – MONDAY 30/06/2014

CALL FOR REGISTRATION

ANNOUNCEMENT (14/06/2014): As of 13/06/2014 all 60 available seats have been filled, therefore we cannot accept any more registrations at this phase. We are sorry for the inconvenience, the course had an overwhelming response, which motivates us to repeat it. There will be a second round of the same course in automn 2014 and the announcement will be posted a few weeks in advance in https://www.facebook.com/MARLISCOProject

Have a nice zero-litter summer
MARLISCO e-course organisers

Why need I know about marine litter as an educator?

Marine Litter – any persistent manufactured or processed solid material that is found in seas or coasts–has globally emerged as a challenging problem: Found in all seas and coasts around the world ... lying on shores ... floating anywhere from the surface to the bottom of the sea ... even in the most isolated, pristine environments, marine litter poses a threat to the environment, human health and safety, as well as livelihoods. It is a complex and challenging problem, which stems from the prevailing production and consumption patterns, and from how we deal with our wastes.

What is the e-course about?

The whole course is based on the educational material “Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter”. This is a product of the MARLISCO project (read below) and it is expected to be translated and applied in 15 countries by 2015. It contains 17 educational activities examining the characteristics, sources, effects and possible ways to tackle the problem, addressing it from an environmental, societal, cultural and economic point of view. It has been designed to primarily serve middle school level, but can be used also by educators outside the formal schooling system.

Broadly speaking we could say that the e-course serves as a substitute for a 1.5 day face-to-face seminar aiming to train participants on effective ways of teaching about marine litter issues.

What will I get from this course?

• You will have an overview of the educational material “Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter”.
• You will get some teaching ideas you could apply with students or other audiences
• You will simulate applying specific activities from the material and evaluate them
• You will exchange views with educators from other European countries
• You will maybe learn some e-tools you weren’t aware of

What is adaptive collaborative learning?

This is not a course based on individual reading and a final test. It is based on the principle of adaptive collaborative learning, which means participants will need to actively contribute to it by taking part in the forum discussions, posing questions to fellow participants and facilitators, making suggestions to improve the content and working solo or in groups to complete the assignments. Whatever form the participation takes, you should keep in mind that in this course the participants are co-responsible for the content and level of interaction.

How much time need I invest?

The course is designed for people who can study, learn and work concurrently. It lasts 8 days with an estimated workload of 2 hours daily. The exact amount of time needed to complete it will depend on your experience, degree of participation and familiarity with the subject.

Is it synchronous or asynchronous?

The course is a-synchronous which means you do not have to be online on a fixed day /time. You can spread your work-load over the week to times most convenient to you. Still, you will get the most out of the course if you could devote to it at least one hour daily, instead of accumulating the total work in just one day or two. Facilitators will be available on weekdays working hours, but learners can submit their contributions or questions at any time.

Who will take part?

The e-course is addressed mainly, but not exclusively, to MARLISCO partner countries (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey, and United Kingdom) and is open to be attended by:

• Teachers of primary and secondary level of all disciplines (formal education sector).
• Educators in museums, parks, aquariums, NGOs etc. (non formal sector).
• Managers, scientists, staff, volunteers, etc. of aquatic Parks, coastal local authorities, etc. with an experience in the topic of marine litter and an interest in education.

How many are expected to take part?

It is the first time we run this course and we will accommodate 50-60 participants. We aspire that the variety of nationalities, educational contexts and backgrounds of the course participants will lead to a creative blend and give to all of us the chance to learn from each other, how we can better sensitise our audiences in the complex issue of tackling litter in our seas.

Are there any requirements for those taking part?

There are no strict requirements to take part in the course. However, it is best if those wishing to take part fulfil the following:

• Country: Priority will be given to participants from MARLISCO countries.
• Language: Good level of English is required to follow the course content and tasks
• Background: Studies or work experience in a relevant field is an asset
• Technical: Basic ICT skills & a computer with a reliable internet connection
• Availability: Learners should be able to spend 1-2 hours daily on course work

Can I browse the material before the course starts?

The material is in editing and graphic set-up phase. We will do our best to have the whole book available online before the course starts for those having registered. At this point we can share with you only the contents (view last page)

Are there any fees involved?

No, all costs are covered by the MARLISCO project.

Will I get a certificate of completion?

Learners who successfully complete the course will receive a certificate from the MARLISCO lead agency. The award of this certificate will be based on the completion of exercises and assignments (at least 75%) and the general participation.

How do I register?

Only online registrations are valid.
https://www.eventora.com/en/events/e-course-marlisco-educational-material-marine-litt  
Deadline for registrations: 18/06/2014.
Selected participants will be notified by 20/06/2014.

What is MARLISCO?

MARLISCO (MARine LItter in Europe Seas: Social AwarenesS and CO-Responsibility) is an EC funded project on marine litter across Europe’s Seas. Over its 3 year duration (2012-2015) 20 partners from 15 coastal countries carry out a plethora of activities on marine litter, such as a study of its sources and trends, a collection of best practices, a survey on European’s perceptions, a video contest for youth, and many other national activities including, debates, festivals, clean ups, etc. Within the project awareness raising tools are developed, such as a travelling exhibition, an e-game, a web-documentary, and the educational material “Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter”. Read more at www.marlisco.eu

Who are the course organisers? 

	The course is held by MIO-ECSDE / MEdIES in the framework of the MARLISCO FP7 project that is funded by the EC (www.marlisco.eu) The views and opinions expressed in this publication are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of  the European Commission
	Mediterranean Information Office for Environment, Culture & Sustainable Development (MIO-ECSDE) Established in 1995 MIO-ECSDE (www.mio-ecsde.org) is a non-profit Federation of NGOs from the Mediterranean region working in the field of Environment and Sustainable Development.
	Mediterranean Education Initiative for Environment and Sustainability (MEdIES) Launched in Johannesburg (WSSD, 2002), MEdIES (www.medies.net) is MIO-ECSDE’s main education imitative, with the objective to provide capacity building on ESD through publications, trainings and the facilitation of an e-network of educators.

You wish to contact the organisers?

MIO-ECSDE, 12 Kyrristou str., 10556, Athens, Greece

T +30 210 3247267 (ext 202) MEdIES Secretariat: info@medies.net

Who are the trainers?

	Iro Alampei is the lead facilitator of the training. She has a Master in Teaching Science, and since 2011 works at MEdIES as an education officer. She has worked in all the educational components of the MARLISCO project and is the co-author of the educational material “Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter” and is eager to collect your impressions on it.
	The training will be co-facilitated by selected MARLISCO experts partners that have already evaluated the educational material

Take a look at the contents of the material