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BLUE PLANET EDUCATORS: SUSTAINABILITY & MARINE LEARNING
Introduction and Description
Blue Planet Educators: Sustainability & Marine Learning is an Erasmus+ structured training course designed to strengthen teachers’ professional competences in ecology, sustainability education, and marine learning through experiential, outdoor, and field-based approaches. Responding directly to the Erasmus+ priorities of environmental sustainability, climate action, and the green transition, the course positions marine and coastal environments as powerful educational contexts for understanding global ecological challenges and fostering responsible environmental citizenship.
The course addresses the urgent need for high-quality sustainability education in European schools by deepening participants’ understanding of marine ecosystems, biodiversity, ocean–climate interactions, and human impacts on the oceans. Key themes include coastal and marine habitats, ecosystem dynamics, climate change, pollution, resource use, and the interdependence between environmental systems and human societies. Through these themes, participants explore how marine education can support learners in developing ecological awareness, systems thinking, and long-term responsibility for the planet.
A distinctive feature of the course is its strong emphasis on outdoor and field-based learning. Participants engage directly with marine, coastal, or aquatic environments through structured observation, inquiry, and hands-on investigation. These experiences demonstrate how learning outside the classroom enhances scientific understanding, learner motivation, and meaningful engagement with sustainability issues. The course equips teachers with practical skills to plan, implement, and evaluate safe and effective fieldwork that can be transferred to diverse educational contexts.
The programme also integrates inquiry-based learning and citizen science as key pedagogical approaches aligned with Erasmus+ sustainability objectives. Participants gain experience with simple environmental monitoring methods, data collection, and interpretation, learning how evidence-based inquiry can support climate education and environmental action in schools. Creative and digital tools are used to document, reflect on, and communicate learning, supporting interdisciplinary teaching and innovation in sustainability education.
Both 5-day and 10-day formats are available. The 5-day programme offers an intensive introduction to marine sustainability education, while the 10-day programme allows for deeper exploration, extended fieldwork, and more comprehensive project development. In both formats, participants design transferable teaching units or sustainability projects aligned with curriculum goals and Erasmus+ priorities.
By the end of the course, participants are empowered to integrate ecology and sustainability more effectively into their teaching practice, contributing to greener, more environmentally responsible schools and supporting the broader European objectives of climate awareness, environmental protection, and sustainable development.
Objectives
1. Marine & Environmental Knowledge
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Deepen understanding of marine ecosystems, coastal environments, and ocean–climate interactions.
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Analyse human impacts on marine systems, including pollution, resource use, and climate change.
2. Sustainability & Ocean Literacy
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Strengthen ocean literacy and key sustainability concepts relevant to European and global contexts.
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Connect local marine observations with global environmental challenges.
3. Fieldwork & Outdoor Pedagogy
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Develop competence in planning and implementing outdoor, field-based, and place-based learning activities.
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Apply inquiry-based and experiential approaches to marine and environmental education.
4. Citizen Science & Inquiry
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Use simple scientific methods for environmental monitoring and data collection.
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Interpret field data and translate findings into meaningful learning activities.
5. Creative & Digital Communication
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Integrate creative and digital tools to document, interpret, and communicate marine learning.
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Design engaging learning tasks that combine science, storytelling, and reflection.
6. Curriculum Integration & Educational Practice
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Design transferable teaching units and projects aligned with curriculum and sustainability goals.
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Reflect critically on professional practice and the role of educators in sustainability education.
Preparation
After registration participants will receive pre-course questionnaire which will be used by the trainer to learn about participants’ teaching backgrounds and to assess their exact needs. Before the beginning of the course a basic reading list will be suggested to participants to prepare for the training. Participants will also be asked to prepare a presentation about themselves, their professional context and their culture. The presentation will be presented on the first day of the course to facilitate networking opportunities. Participants will receive information about the country they are going to visit in order to prepare them for their cultural experience.
Follow up
After the course participants will be asked to share what they have learned with the rest of the staff in their schools. Further books and articles to deepen the topic and contacts with some other practitioners all over Europe and in the world will be suggested by the trainer. The methods shared and explored and the bibliography given will allow the participants to complete and improve their educational path.
5 days programme (25 hours)
course sessions (Monday to Friday)
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An intensive introduction to marine and coastal ecosystems, focusing on key ecological processes and biodiversity
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Exploration of ocean–climate interactions, including climate change impacts on marine and coastal environments
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Strong emphasis on outdoor and field-based learning in marine, coastal, or aquatic settings
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Structured coastal and marine fieldwork, including observation, ecological mapping, and site-based investigation
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Introduction to ocean literacy as a foundation for sustainability and environmental education
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Application of inquiry-based learning through real-world environmental observation and investigation
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Hands-on experience with selected citizen science activities, such as marine litter audits or biodiversity monitoring
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Use of basic scientific tools and field documentation methods suitable for school contexts
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Analysis of human pressures on marine environments, including pollution, tourism, and resource use
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Connection between local field observations and global sustainability challenges
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Use of digital tools for field documentation, reflection, and environmental communication
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Integration of creative and reflective practices to support deeper environmental understanding
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Translation of field experiences into curriculum-aligned teaching units or sustainability projects
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Exploration of interdisciplinary links between science, geography, and sustainability education
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Opportunities for collaborative learning and peer exchange within an international group
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Guided reflection on professional practice in the context of ecology and sustainability education
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Explicit alignment with Erasmus+ priorities, particularly environmental sustainability and the green transition
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Preparation of transferable teaching resources applicable to participants’ own educational contexts
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Continuous formative feedback and reflective assessment supporting professional development
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· Continuous formative feedback and reflective assessment supporting professional development
cultural and social programme
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Teambuilding and networking activities
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City tour or a cultural trip
10 days programme (50 hours)
course sessions (Monday to Friday + Monday to Friday)
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In-depth exploration of marine and coastal ecosystems, including biodiversity, habitat dynamics, and ecosystem services
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Study of ocean–climate interactions, addressing climate change, sea-level rise, coastal erosion, and marine resilience
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Extensive outdoor and field-based learning in marine, coastal, or aquatic environments
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Structured coastal and marine fieldwork, including observation, ecological mapping, and site-based investigations
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Introduction to ocean literacy and its relevance for sustainability education and environmental awareness
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Inquiry-based learning approaches applied to real-world environmental contexts
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Hands-on experience with citizen science methodologies, such as biodiversity surveys, marine litter audits, and environmental monitoring
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Use of simple scientific tools and data-collection techniques suitable for school contexts
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Analysis of human impacts on marine environments, including pollution, tourism pressure, resource use, and coastal development
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Engagement with local and global sustainability challenges through place-based learning
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Integration of digital tools for field documentation, mapping, and environmental communication
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Creative and reflective practices (storytelling, visual documentation, reflective writing) connected to marine learning
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Development of field-to-classroom transfer strategies, linking outdoor experiences to curriculum objectives
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Design of curriculum-aligned teaching units or sustainability projects focused on ecology and marine education
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Exploration of interdisciplinary approaches, connecting science, geography, citizenship, and environmental education
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Opportunities for collaborative learning and peer exchange among international participants
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Guided reflection on professional practice and the educator’s role in sustainability and climate education
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Alignment with Erasmus+ priorities, particularly environmental sustainability, climate action, and the green transition
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Preparation of transferable project outputs applicable to participants’ own educational contexts
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Continuous formative feedback and reflective assessment supporting professional development
cultural and social programme
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Teambuilding and networking activities
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City tour or a cultural trip
CERTIFICATE
Each participant will get a course attendance certificate and we will validate the acquired competences on the Europass Mobility upon request. Please note that we have a paperless policy and all the documents will be delivered in digital form.
COURSE FEE
The course fee is 80 € per day. It includes tuition and materials, cultural and social programme, support in preparation and all the administrative work. There are no additional costs or hidden fees. After registration, you will receive a pro-forma invoice which you will have to pay by bank transaction. You will receive the invoice after you attend the course.
SUBSISTENCE
The course fee doesn't include accommodation and meals and participants are responsible to organize them on their own. In some locations we might be able to recommend or organize subsistence for you. Please don't hesitate to contact us to inquire about any specific location.