Introduction and schedule

This web page discribes an online course for high school students, given by VIRTUE-s in the spring of 2020.

In the spring 2020, when many schools were closed due to the pandemic of Covid-19, VIRTUE-s launched a digital global classroom for international collaborations on marine biology topics instead of the planned summer school. Students participating in the project from home, were able to follow the program and meet researchers and experts from universities and organizations from four countries. The content is connected to participants local curricular demands, but a passing grade will also grant an exclusive diploma of achievement signed by participating universities. The program run for 6 weeks starting the 20th of April and were open for schools participating in the Erasmus+ project VIRTUE-s.

The core of the program was a series of weekly webinars hosted by the project on themes connected to VIRTUE topics. In between sessions, schools and students were working individually or in groups with assignments connected to the themes. Teachers and students chose what fitted their situation and it could be different tasks in different schools. The results were shared and discussed with all participants during the final webinar. The webinars were recorded and published for viewing later by the students and their teachers.

We encourage you as educator to use this course and it´s content as an inspiration and a resource for your own education.

Timetable for the course

Test run: 2020-04-20  at 12.30 – 13.30
Digital classroom were open for testing connections.

Webinar 1: 2020-04-27 at 12.30 – 13.30
Introduction. Aspects of collaboration and media production.
Lecture by Dennis Augustsson, University West, Sweden.
Group session with students

Webinar 2: 2020-05-04 at 12.30 – 13.30
Theme: Ecology
Lecture by Adam Frederick, Maryland Sea Grant, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, USA
Group session with students

Webinar 3: 2020-05-11 at 12.30 – 13.30
Theme: Biodiversity
Lecture by Adam Frederick, Maryland Sea Grant, Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology, USA
Group session with students

Webinar 4: 2020-05-18 at 12.30 – 13.30
Theme: Ocean Literacy
Lecture by Tecla Maggioni, SUBMON, Spain
Group session with students

Webinar 5: 2020-05-25 at 12.30 – 13.30
Review and summary.
Group session with students.