CARE: Students discussed with their parents in the “Care” phase about the pollution from the electric plants in Greece. In the first part of the “Know” phase students used a mobile application to compute their electric energy consumption where they were helped by their parents.

KNOW:  Students prepared the questions for the scientist in the padlet for the “know” phase.

The renewable energy resources scenario was performed as a continuity in the electric energy chapter of the Physics Greek curriculum. Students showed interest and wanted to learn what are the photovoltaic systems. They had some misunderstandings as concerns the wind generators but after finalization of the project they showed confidence in science.

DO: Students made a poster (“Do” phase) divided by smaller parts in which they show the environmental problems that arise from the conventional electric plants and what are the renewable energy resources. Also, they put in the poster two small photovoltaic panels that are connected through wires with a small fan.

Findings about open schooling: The benefits of these science actions are that students become more active, and they care about problems that exist, but they never think about them. Teacher’s role was to facilitate the process and to help the students. We faced some problems during the implementation as was for example the minor participation of parents.

Results for students: Connect gave us the opportunity to relate the curriculum with a real problem. Our students learned how is possible to be “connected” in the real problems.   Students like to work in teams and to learn about real problems concerning the environment. They also want to take actions and to give solutions, they want to be more active and not pathetic as they do unfortunately during school routine.

CARE: We started it during the second lockdown, using on-line teaching; however, the biggest part of the CONNECT scenario was applied in the classroom at the end of the second pandemic. The only online part of the Rewilding Greece scenario was the online meeting (1hour) with the invited scientist Dr. Iasmi Stathi from the Natural Museum of History at Heracleio, Crete. Dr. Iasmi had a great interaction with all 19 students participating at the programme and there was a bombardment of questions during that hour. The family was involved in the learning process and their task was to discuss with students and choose the animal for rewilding Greece.

KNOW: Teachers need to have their teaching a priority and that pushes the implementation of CONNECT towards the second half of the teaching year. However, the procedures needed to follow were clear.

DO: the last `DO` part really made a difference for having the students organize their learning for a purpose. However, it took a burden on curriculum programme, and it left us with the aftertaste of having fewer hours for applying the scenario.

We decided to make an action writing a letter of intent to government departments responsible for the environment.

Black Francolin:
https://connect-eu.exus.co.uk/?attachment=805&document_type=document&download_document_file=1&document_file=91

Lynx :
https://connect-eu.exus.co.uk/?attachment=804&document_type=document&download_document_file=1&document_file=90

Findings about open schooling: The science needed to make a scientific argument was easy to incorporate, however the task to fit the programme into school curriculum was cumbersome.

Outcomes for students: It took some effort to keep the students focus on the scientific argument when the initial joy of participation passed. The science was not difficult; however the students found the competition a long process. During the teaching the students never complaint about not being able to complete the task.