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Bioeconomy uses renewable biological resources to produce goods, energy, and services, making it a critical area for students to understand in the 21st century.
As a driver of economic growth and job creation and long-term sustainable development, bioeconomy equips students with the skills to tackle future global challenges. However, it’s essential to address its associated challenges, such as responsible management of natural resources, global competition that respect the ecological conditions of the Earth and environmental impacts, to ensure a sustainable transition (updated Bioeconomy Strategy 2018).
How can you integrate these vital aspects into the classroom to prepare students for the bioeconomy?
Despite its potential, bioeconomy remains underrepresented in the public consciousness. Teachers have a key role in raising awareness of both the benefits and conditions of bioeconomy among future generations. This course introduces the concepts of bioeconomy and circular economy, showing their relevance to everyday life. Participants will learn how to incorporate these topics into various subjects and educational settings, creating innovative and adaptable learning experiences. The course also helps them raise awareness of future job opportunities in bioeconomy and develop the essential 21st-century skills needed in this field. Participants conclude the course by constructing a Learning Scenario to effectively implement bioeconomy topics in their teaching.
The course is aimed at practicing teachers of students aged from 4 to 19 years old, with all levels of experience and across all subject areas, as well as student teachers preparing for entry into the profession. It also appeals to other educational professionals, researchers and bioeconomy stakeholders interested in implementing the topic of bioeconomy into their actions. No previous experience or knowledge about bioeconomy is needed to take this course.
The course includes materials developed through the Horizon Europe GenB and other bioeconomy projects, such as BIOVOICES, BLOOM, Transition2Bio, BioGov.net and many more. Materials offer lesson plans, educational games, job profiles, and more from the GenB Toolkit. Through the course participants are also introduced to the 7-Steps of Eco-Schools Methodology, a guide to making schools more environmentally sustainable by involving the whole school community.
Learning objectives
- Define the concept of bioeconomy and explain its relevance for students and modern society by analysing the implications of bioeconomy for educational systems and curricula.
- Identify the tools and replicable practices and how to effectively utilise them in specific classroom settings by exploring GenB Toolkits.
- Discover sustainable practices and opportunities to transform the school into an environmentally aware institution by engaging with the 7-step Eco School Methodology.
- Design and implement lesson plans that incorporate bioeconomy principles in various educational subjects.
- Develop strategies to introduce and discuss career opportunities in the bioeconomy with students by analysing the sector and career testimonials from professionals in the field.
- Describe the goals and initiatives of the GenB project and evaluate its potential to enhance teaching methodologies.
Modules
- Module 1: Bioeconomy – from B to Y
- Module 2: Bioeconomy in Education: Best Practices and Challenges
- Module 3: Bioeconomy Career Awareness and Teaching Approaches
- Module 4: Your bioeconomy learning scenario
Behind the course
This MOOC has been developed as part of the GenB project in collaboration with Scientix, an initiative of European Schoolnet.
GenB project that runs from November 2022 until April 2025 and is funded by Horizon Europe, the European Union’s funding programme for research and innovation. GenB is focused on educating and empowering the Generation Bioeconomy (GenB), aware, sensitive, and interested in environmental issues, sustainability and circularity.
Scientix®, the community for science education in Europe, promotes and supports a Europe-wide collaboration among STEM teachers, education researchers, policymakers and other STEM education professionals. Scientix® is an initiative of European Schoolnet (EUN).
The full MOOC content can be found on the GenB website and more info on the EUNA Academy platform.