KNYSNA NEWS - Teachers from various high schools in Knysna recently attended a three-day workshop focused on marine biodiversity and the environment to enhance their knowledge and to enable them to inspire learners.
The workshop formed part of the Educator Empowerment Programme (EEP), a teacher training course developed and managed by the Knysna Basin Project in collaboration with Janet Snow from Environmental Learning and Teaching.
Locally relevant education
The programme, implemented over three years and funded by the Table Mountain Fund, will provide locally relevant environmental education to local high and primary school teachers.
Programme director of the Knysna Basin Project, Dr Louw Claassens said the first workshop was attended by 16 participants from Knysna, Concordia, Percy Mdala and Murray high schools and Knysna Secondary School, as well as three SA National Parks employees responsible for community education.
Link to school subjects
During the workshop, Snow – who has a master's degree in education and 20 years' experience in environmental education and educator skills development – demonstrated how environmental studies can be linked to most school subjects.
On the final day of the workshop, teachers participated in a field trip to the rocky shores at the Knysna Heads, to give them first-hand experience of how they can enrich their teaching and stimulate interest and enthusiasm among their learners.
Teachers also received various locally relevant teaching materials that will be used to enhance their teaching skills. Each teacher also received a copy of Southern African Sea Life: A Guide for Young Explorers by Sophie von der Heyden sponsored by Struik Nature.
Accredited qualification
As part of the EEP, teachers will be registered at Rhodes University for a short course, and upon the successful completion of the year-long programme, they will also receive an accredited qualification from the university.
The second training workshop is being planned for 15 to 17 June.
In addition to the training sessions, regular check-in meetings will be held every few months, which will provide continuous support and assistance to teachers with their assignments as well as to develop relationships.
"The enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from participants of the first three-day workshop has shown that the EEP is now established and was well received. It is hoped that by being more confident and competent with practical and locally significant environmental examples, teachers can enrich their teaching skills and so inspire their pupils," said Claassens.
Plans are also under way to recruit primary school teachers for the 2020 programme.
Would you like to participate?
If you are a local primary teacher and interested to be part of the EEP, contact Claassens on kyss.louw@gmail.com.
