by Diana Radmann, Bernhard Schmözler & Franz Rauch (Klagenfurt University, Austria)

Our PARRISE project, “Mobility, traffic and renewable energy” , is a joint project between the Alpen-Adria University Klagenfurt and the Center for Didactics of Natural Sciences/University of Teacher Education in Carinthia. The project is embedded in the regional “Climate Schools” programme and is funded by the Climate and Energy Fund of the Austrian government, which focuses on climate issues.  The following institutions and people participate in the project: 15 pre-service science teachers from the University of Teacher Education in Carinthia; three model regions in Carinthia: “Energy Paradise Vally of Lavant”, ”Terra amicitiae Arnoldstein”, “Region South Carinthia”, each managed by a climate region manager; 10 schools, 20 in-service science teachers and about 250 students in the Climate model regions, and 10 pre-service students from the Alpen-Adria University. During the summer term of 2016 many events and workshops, organised by in-service teachers of the Climate Schools together with pre-service teachers of the TPD “Mobility traffic and renewable energy” of the University of Teacher Education Carinthia and climate region managers, took part in the three model regions in Carinthia: Climate Workshop, “Solar Day”, participation in “The Long Night of Research 2016”.

The “Long Night of Research 2016”

The “Long Night of Research” took place on 22 April 2016.  The “Long Night of Research” is one of the largest popular science events in Austria. More than 160.000 people visited this event. In the context of the “Long Night of Research”, pre-service teachers of our TPD module presented their projects which addressed the topic “Mobility, traffic and renewable energy” at schools in Climate model regions in Carinthia (http://www.klimaschulen.at). Moreover, they developed a learning circle with hands-on experiments at the Center for Didactics of Natural Sciences of the University of Teacher Education Carinthia. The aim was to attract curiosity and interest for research and natural sciences and especially for the topic of renewable energy. Pupils experienced natural science in a playful manner and tried out the role of researcher, while pre-service teachers had the possibility to test the knowledge obtained through their studies and their pedagogical and methodological skills. Among 90 research stations, which were presented in Klagenfurt during the “Long Night of Research”, the contribution of the pre-service teachers of the University of Teacher Education Carinthia was ranked first among the visitors.

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Climate Workshop “Solar Day” on 4 May 2016

In the Climate model region Terra Amicitiae Arnoldstein a “Solar Day” workshop was organised by in-service teachers of climate schools together with pre-service teachers of the TPD “Mobility traffic and renewable energy” of the University of Teacher Education Carinthia and climate region manager. The following schools were involved: New Secondary School (NMS) Arnoldstein; Secondary School for Economic Professions (HLW) St. Peter; Agricultural Technical School (LFS) Stiegerhof. About 110 pupils took part in the climate and energy issues. Topics like photosynthesis, CO2 and the climate, and the energy consumption in Austria, were elaborated with the students by using many practical examples.  The students had to master an obstacle course by e-bike or segway, to convert the consumption of fossil fuels like oil in renewable energies like wood chips, etc. The students also participated enthusiastically in an energy quiz on energy efficiency, environmental, mobility and climate protection topics.  At the end of the “Solar Day” workshop, healthy, home-made snacks offered by the Agricultural Technical School Stiegerhof completed an informative and exciting day.