PARADIGM uses the appropriate technological infrastructure (devices, data platforms and tools) to empower the active engagement of citizens in taking action against climate change and for sustainable development through better monitoring and observing the environment and its environmental impacts. PARADIGM promotes innovative practices based on designing and developing the appropriate technological infrastructure coupled with selected learning scenarios that follow challenge-based and project-based learning methodologies, piloted by the network of European Schools in each partner country. In specific, the purpose is to train, lead and motivate learners to gain environmental knowledge and propose solutions via an educational process based on three different learning dimensions-objectives: a)Cognitive: learners gain environmental knowledge through IoT-STEM based activities and platforms b)Scientific: learners acquire knowledge through an empirical process based on the scientific method (e.g. observation, scepticism, cognitive assumptions, hypotheses, inductive thinking, e.t.c.) c)Pedagogical: educators receive the appropriate pedagogical directions to implement a teaching approach based on an e-learning course and repository.
The active role of citizens and their involvement is essential to address climate change. Changes in citizens behaviours towards more sustainable patterns can be boosted through STEM, which has attracted a lot of interest lately due to the increased availability of low-cost open-source solutions and the increased interest of young students in being engaged in such activities. Latest technological advances in the fields of wireless sensor networks and the IoT have introduced unprecedented capabilities towards monitoring the environment in aspects of everyday life. Turning these technological tools into powerful educational tools coupled with their proper societal dimension is the opportunity foreseen by PARADIGM: it is a structured pedagogical, scientific and educational project. It contributes to the needs through involving citizens directly and especially the young generation and communities in action plans that leads to a more sustainable lifestyle and relationship to the environment. It contributes to emerging environmental challenges; develops innovative curricula in the green sector, that it is not effectively included in school education; promotes STEM approaches and; upskills teachers through innovative methodologies.