Simulation Training and Gaming to Raise Awareness about Climate Change and to behave appropriately in case of Natural Disasters for Secondary Schools

We developed an innovative and interdisciplinary, game-based training program, “Response to Natural Disasters and Climate Action”, with the help of which 192 teachers improved their knowledge and ...

We developed an innovative and interdisciplinary, game-based training program, “Response to Natural Disasters and Climate Action”, with the help of which 192 teachers improved their knowledge and skills and can teach students interdisciplinary lessons on preparedness, training in natural disaster behaviors and actions against climate change. The methodology is based on educational games and tools that can substantially contribute to environmental education, the fight against climate change, as well as the acquisition of key skills by students. The 4 online Minecraft games have been specially designed to support solving challenges related to natural disasters. The game is complemented by guides that help integrate it into the classroom. Thanks to them, 385 students were trained with the aim of increasing their awareness of natural disasters and their effects and of forming appropriate behaviors and attitudes in case of natural disasters through the use of simulation games. Last but not least, we wanted to improve the digital and gamification skills of the participating teachers and students.

The project focuses on the first horizontal priority - environmental issues and climate change. It develops key competences of students, such as citizenship, personality and social, digital and scientific competences, directly through the online simulation game and the pilot course. It includes online training programs and 4 games contributing to the digital transformation. The following activities were carried out: - 5 school workshops to pilot the integration of the game, according to the developed guidelines, one in each partner country; - 4 round tables attended by 149 teachers, for the integration of the NDR&CA interdisciplinary training programs for teachers; - 6 dissemination events, one in each partner country, with a total of 239 participants, where the theme and results of the project were presented in detail; - An online school awareness campaign 'Preparation and response to natural disasters' organized in the 6 countries, addressing students and teachers.

• One innovative, interdisciplinary and game-based curriculum “Response to Natural Disasters and Climate Action” for secondary school teachers; • attractive and interdisciplinary training materials to help implement the curriculum; • piloted and tested methodological guides for secondary school teachers; • 25 school teachers participating in the international pilot course; • 4 round tables attended by 149 teachers, for the integration of the NDR&CA interdisciplinary training programmes for teachers; • 192 secondary school teachers from all partner countries, trained locally; • 4 games created for experimenting and learning appropriate preparation, behaviors and reactions in natural disaster situations and raising awareness of the cause-effect link between climate change and natural disasters; • guides for using the game in various educational contexts; • 5 school workshops for piloting the game, one in each partner country, attended by 429 students; • 7 dissemination events, one in each partner country, totaling 269 participants, where the project theme and results will be presented in detail; • a school awareness campaign 'Preparation and response to natural disasters' •24548 persons informed about the project.