The project e4 — tools in higher Education for an Embodied & creative Energy Education, funded by Erasmus Plus: the project aims at supporting and reforming teacher training (for primary and lower secondary teachers) at academic institutions, in the field of energy (energy solutions, energy and environment, energy and society). On this scenario, e4 intends to create (1) innovative materials for teacher training in the field of energy technology and (2) a network of academic institutions and partners in (energy) industry, agriculture and public institutions that deal practically with these issues.
The main objectives of the project are
- develop and/or enrich higher education curricula (in teacher education for primary and lower secondary school levels), following a didactic approach based on “tools of imagination” like storytelling, gamification, embodied simulation, digital simulation, and play to facilitate science communication at primary and lower secondary school levels;
- train academics charged with teacher education in innovative pedagogies and approaches to teaching science courses (including the use of appropriate aids and materials);
- promote learning and teaching partnerships between universities and the private energy sector;
- upskill future science teachers with new approaches to teaching to encourage girls for scientific carriers and fight against gender stereotypes in scientific and engineering careers;
- support the strengthening of science skills of EU citizens and professionals to make conscious choices and use creativity and a critical mindset to contribute to lower CO2 emissions towards EU 2050 targets.
The lead partner of the project is Free University of Bozen-Bolzano.