Specialist training for nature and biology teachers

On 21 - 22 October 2014, in Smardzewice a specialist training entitled ‘Buffer Zones to Reduce Diffuse Pollution in School Education’ was delivered. This training was developed for life science and biology teachers from the area covered by EKOROB Project, and addressed to teachers of schools located on Sulejow Reservoir in particular.

35 participants, including 29 teachers – life science and biology teachers representing the elementary and lower secondary schools, and an academic teacher of the Department of Applied Ecology of the University of Lodz, took part in the training.

The following presentations were delivered under this training:

• Katarzyna Izydorczyk, European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the PAS: ‘Causes and effects of cyanobacterial blooms based on the example of Sulejow Reservoir’
• Wojciech Frątczak, Project Coordinator, ‘EKOROB Project presentation’
• Katarzyna Izydorczyk, European Regional Centre for Ecohydrology of the PAS: ‘Efficiency of vegetation buffer zones to reduce diffuse pollution in agricultural areas’

Participants of the workshops also took part in simulation games, exercises and learning activities proposed by Ms. Marta Jermaczek-Sitak of the ‘Zrodla’ Centre for Ecological Activities. Teachers who took part in the workshops played the roles of students, and participated in fragments of demonstration lessons or modelling of teachers’ work with students in terms of the topics of agricultural pollution, circulation of nitrogen and phosphorus, eutrophication processes and ecotones.

The teachers’ feedback concerning the proposed lesson scenarios, methodology, materials and presentations, was a key and permanent feature of the training. Teachers were very active in the discussions and willingly presented their ideas on how to improve the proposed methods of presenting the materials and working with the students.

The field workshop was one of the critical components of the training and was held on the first day. First the teachers visited an eco-lab at the School Complex in Smardzewice, which introduced them to the procedure of applying for co-financing under competitions held by the Regional Fund for Environmental Protection, and outcomes of the grants, i.e. labs with functional and attractive equipment.

The teachers also took part in a visit to newly constructed buffer zones under EKOROB Project demonstrations sites in Zarzecin, Barkowice Zatoka and Barkowice Laka, where they could learn about vegetation planted in the ecotones, ecosystem biotechnology solutions and promotional activities delivered under the Project. Demonstration of the monitoring activity was of a special value to this group, i.e. sampling and analysis of ground water performed under EKOROB Project. The teachers said that they planned to deliver such field activity for their students.

Upon the training completion, Mr. Maciej Sobanski, who represented the Complex of Lodzkie Province Landscape Parks, presented the educational offer of the Pilica Landscape Parks. The teachers also appreciated that component, and were asking about available dates and options of organising such activities for children in cooperation with the Landscape Parks.

Organisers thanked the teachers for such an active participation in the workshops and asked them to submit their comments and proposals concerning the teaching materials.