The project's objectives were to have the students become more knowledgeable about and interested in biodiversity and environment, not just about climate change. In addition, we wanted them to see the topic as not just a threat, but as a possibility, and at the same time learn about other countries’ and cultures’ traditions and viewpoints, by having them work internationally. The language used throughout the project was English, which was also something we wanted to concentrate on: language as a tool, not just an object to be learnt. Moreover, we wanted the students to be active participants and actors and learn concrete ways to study and help the environment, which included for example gathering and microscoping samples and cleaning and growing a part of a meadow. Learning to use technology was also one of the main aims of achievement, as even though students use their phones every day, they are still not very adept at using other technologies. We also wanted to give the quieter and/or less fortunate students a change to participate, as they are often somewhat overlooked.
We applied for this project to enhance our students' understanding of environmental issues, and specifically biodiversity, not only climate change. Our aim was to provide practical and international learning experiences to address the need for improved environmental awareness, international cooperation and digital skills among students. Environmental problems are not only local but global, and in the future the students will need know-how on the subject for example in their studies and jobs.We also wanted the students to build their ability to work collaboratively in diverse teams, and leverage more digital tools for educational purposes. The project addressed gaps in traditional classroom learning by integrating hands-on, real-world experiences and cross-cultural exchanges, fostering a deeper and more practical understanding of ecological concepts and global citizenship as well as the use of different digital tools.