Involen Newsletter
Intergenerational Learning for Nature Conservation Volunteers
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ISSUE 4
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JANUARY 2015 |
Read previous issues here |
IN THE CURRENT ISSUE
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What is INVOLEN? | ||
The project objectives, methodology and activities | ||
Learning Tools & Resources | ||
The Guide For Learning Facilitators | The INVOLEN Toolkit for Learners | The INVOLEN Helpdesk |
Opportunities to participate | ||
Register now for the International Conference in Italy! | ||
Press | ||
Read all the latest | ||
What is INVOLEN?
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The project objectives, methodology and activities
INVOLEN is an innovative project promoting
intergenerational learning through game-based learning, targeting nature
conservation volunteers in 5 European countries (Italy, Greece, France, Hungary
and Slovenia). INVOLEN brings together two different age groups, adolescents
and senior citizens and encourages their participation in voluntary activities
for the protection and preservation of the European ecological heritage,
focusing on NATURA 2000 sites. Seniors and youth are challenged to work
together in groups and design their own interactive ICT games on nature
conservation. A wide dissemination campaign of the INVOLEN model is launched by
initiating school competitions leading to European awards in all participating
countries.
The objectives of the project include promoting volunteering for nature conservation, making adult education more attractive to all ages, enhancing the preservation of protected areas including NATURA 2000 sites, contributing to the cohesion of communities living inside or near protected areas by enhancing their awareness of the ecological value of their surroundings, bridging the generations’ gap by deriving benefits for young and old and by involving schools and the civil society and promoting the culture of active citizenship. For more information read here: http://www.involen.eu/en/ |
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Learning Tools & Resources | |
The Guide For Learning Facilitators The
INVOLEN partnership worked extensively on the creation of A Guide For Learning
Facilitators, a handbook addressed particularly to educators who
are interested both in the theoretical and practical background of the project.
The Guide presents the methodology developed by the INVOLEN team, and piloted
in 5 countries (Greece, Italy, France, Slovenia and Hungary) with groups of
teenagers and seniors. The aim of the Guide is to give practical advice to teachers and other learning leaders and facilitators about implementing the INVOLEN methodology, providing also examples of how this methodology was applied during its pilot application in schools and NGOs. The Guide, besides presenting the background of the project, focuses in explaining the core concepts that form the INVOLEN framework: Intergenerational Learning, Volunteering and Nature Conservation. This framework is elaborated on the basis of the INVOLEN methodology focusing on the project’s target groups, the identification of the groups’ needs on an intergenerational learning and ICT skills building approach. The role of the INVOLEN facilitator is clarified within the context of the INVOLEN learning process and two models for organising a course of learning activities is presented. The section of game design focuses on game based learning within the context of location-based mobile games. The Guide dedicates its final chapter in the piloting process carried out in the five partner countries focusing in outlining the setting of each case, the diversity among intergenerational groups as well as to provide information about the management aspect of the INVOLEN methodology implementation. The Guide is a useful tool in the hands of any educator willing to participate in the INVOLEN Competition as it provides a basis for organising an intergenerational group for implementing the INVOLEN methodology. The Guide is now available in paper and digital editions in all project languages: | |
The INVOLEN Toolkit for Learners The INVOLEN Toolkit for Learners is a manual
designed to offer practical knowledge for the implementation of the INVOLEN
methodology. The Toolkit helps the reader understand what a location-based game
created in the context of INVOLEN is, what its components are, what steps must
be taken to create a new game, how to collect the material for the senario of
the game, and what are the online platforms available to host it. Examples of
games created during the piloting phase of the INVOLEN methodology are also
included, as well as stories that provided the background for the pilot games’
content.
The Learning Toolkit is structured in two parts: the first Part is addressed to all the participants of INVOLEN activities, i.e. youth, senior citizens and teachers or other experts who act as learning facilitators; the second Part is addressing learning facilitators only, providing some additional information and guidance that would-be useful to them in leading and facilitating their groups of volunteers. The first part of the Toolkit includes 4 sections. The introduction section provides an overview of the INVOLEN project, its target groups and its main products – the location-based games created by volunteers in protected areas. Some useful definitions are offered in the second section, regarding volunteering, intergenerational learning and nature conservation. The third section of the Toolkit focuses in documenting experiences from the pilot implementation of the INVOLEN methodology and presenting examples for inspiration of prospect participants. Nature conservation activities, examples of stories narrated by seniors, and a selection of INVOLEN games created by the pilot groups are included. The key-points for the design of INVOLEN games are presented in the fourth section, together with some ICT tools that are available for constructing location-based games. The second part that addresses mainly the prospect INVOLEN facilitators includes a section on volunteer management; techniques on how to encourage and organise the narrations of the older volunteers; information and links to the INVOLEN Webinars for training learning facilitators; and an overview of the work units that the learning facilitators can use to organize the group work of the intergenerational teams. The Guide is now available in paper and digital editions in all project languages: | |
The INVOLEN Helpdesk The aim of the INVOLEN Helpdesk is to provide
a space for a community of experts, facilitators and volunteers to exchange
experiences, share ideas and most importantly to support each other in order to
carry out the activities of the INVOLEN Lifelong Learning Programme. In the
framework provided by the INVOLEN Helpdesk group a member can ask questions
about the INVOLEN Competition concerning ICT & Game-design,
Intergenerational Learning, Environmental Volunteering, and also ask practical
advice about the INVOLEN Methodology implementation. Experts will be addressing
questions in each field, while all members can benefit from their answers and
solutions reaching the whole community. Experienced members (i.e. educators,
facilitators, ICT skilled participants) are encouraged to participate in
conversations and contribute to the dialogue.
Members of intergenerational teams in all
partner countries are welcome to join the groups created for each partner
country (Italy, Greece, France, Slovenia and Hungary) and to communicate in
their national languages. An English version of the Helpdesk group is also
available for members outside the partner countries who wish to keep up with
the INVOLEN activities: a selection of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) from
all partner countries will be translated by partners in English and will be
made available to the public.
The INVOLEN Helpdesk has been created using Google Groups which offer an easy to use interface and a simple registration process for new users. Six Helpdesk Facebook groups have been created in order to host the social part of the INVOLEN project in all project languages. Their role is complementary to the main Helpdesk assistance and aim in updating participants in terms of events, deadlines, sharing media and polls. Anybody who is interested in participating at the INVOLEN Competition, getting introduced to the methodology and application of the INVOLEN project or keeping up with news and events is welcome to join both Helpdesk groups and be part of the INVOLEN community. INVOLEN Helpdesk in English: https://groups.google.com/d/forum/involen-helpdesk-in-english INVOLEN Facebook group in English: https://www.facebook.com/groups/involen/ Google Groups help: https://support.google.com/groups/answer/46601 |
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE | |
Register now for the International Conference in Italy! INVOLEN
partnership announces the International Conference: "Innovation in environmental education:ICT and intergenerational
learning" that will be held in the wonderful town of Florence, Italy on September 24-25 2015.
The
conference aims to promote discussion on three core topics connected to
lifelong learning: intergenerational learning, for promoting the transmission of knowledge and skills between
different generations in relation to nature conservation and local heritage;
but also for promoting new technologies -ICT and mobile game design- as well as environmental
volunteering for enhancing both education and active citizenship. Activists in nature and social organisations, academicians, practitioners and volunteers, experts on different thematics of education and lifelong learning are invited to share their knowledge and experience. Find more information for the participation to the conference, abstract submission, location etc. on http://involenconference.com/, and check your eligibility to participate for free. The conference will also host the awarding ceremony of the winners of the “Volunteer Conservationists’ Games” European competition which record the participation of almost 30 intergenerational teams across Europe (www.involeneuropeancompetition.wordpress.com) |
Press | |
Read all the latest |
CONTRIBUTORS
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Content Curator Katerina Giosma |
Editors Francesca Ugolini, Fouli Papageorgiou, Elise Gosselin, Polona Zevnik, Honvári Patrícia |
Photographs The Involen Partnership |
OPPORTUNITIES TO PARTICIPATE
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Learn how YOU can take part in! |
For more information click here |
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CONTACT
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http://www.involen.euWith the support of the Lifelong Learning Programme of the European Union |
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