Comics as innovative educational tool to promote active agents of climate change

This project stems from prior research and a strong interest in using comics as a tool within active educational methodologies, as well as from the need to develop new forms of outreach and engagement with the climate emergency and environmental sustainability. From the very beginning, thanks to previous collaborations among the members of the consortium, it was clear that the Erasmus+ programme provided an ideal framework for developing a project that would combine both ideas with a practical application aimed at secondary education. The funding opportunities offered by the programme made it possible to ensure the development of this methodology and to test its outcomes in a diverse and plural educational context, across various teaching and learning situations, while also obtaining comprehensive feedback that would enable the expansion of results into new areas of STEAM communication and teaching. The main needs addressed within the project framework were teacher training and the development of a robust pedagogical plan for implementation in different settings, with the goal of maximizing the use of comics in the classroom.

The main objectives of the project were, fundamentally, to develop a teaching and learning methodology based on comics and implemented in schools, aimed at fostering active citizenship in the adaptation to and fight against climate change and its consequences. This objective would be achieved through the following actions: - The implementation of comics as an innovative educational tool that promotes education in the STEAM field, as well as awareness of the issues arising from the climate emergency and its challenges. - The development of teachers' competencies in comic-based teaching and learning, with a particular focus on its application within active methodologies. - The creation of active citizens who, through the use of comics, would promote social development, environmental competencies, and critical thinking. - The promotion of relationships between different educational sectors and organizations involved in addressing climate change challenges.

The project has enabled the development of several important activities: - Creation of teacher training materials on the use of comics and their applications - Creation of training materials on climate change challenges and environmental sustainability - Development of a Pedagogical Plan for the use of comics as a tool for education and dissemination of climate change issues - Implementation of the Pedagogical Plan in the schools participating in the consortium - Creation of a specific comic for classroom use - Development of an online training platform - Creation of a website ([http://www.cli-mic.eu](http://www.cli-mic.eu)) about the project, as well as a presence on social media and other platforms (Instagram, eTwinning, etc.) - Development of Training Schools - Student mobility to Malta - Development of scientific communication activities to disseminate project results at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals - Development of implementation guides for applying the methodology in different schools - Organization of networking activities with various organizations and environmental events - Development of methodological guides for replicability - Creation of the CLI-MIC network

- The proposed methodology has been successfully implemented in the various schools participating in the project. - A successful student mobility to Malta has been carried out. - Training Schools for teacher education (LTTA) have been conducted. - Training materials on the challenges of climate change and environmental sustainability have been developed. - Training materials on the use of comics in the classroom have been developed. - A Pedagogical Plan has been designed for using comics as a tool for education and dissemination of climate change challenges, including implementation guides. - A comic specifically designed for use in schools has been developed. - A website has been created with shared resources to support the transferability and replicability of the approach. - Both students and teachers have responded positively to the use of this methodology. - Networking activities have been carried out at various environmental events. - The CLI-MIC Network has been established, driven by the CLI-MIC Manifesto. - A working network has been formed around the use of comics in the classroom for STEAM education among consortium partners. - Project results have been presented at scientific confe