News

Teachers Acquire Forest Research Methods

To promote forest research in general education schools in Latvia, JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM) together with the Inter-disciplinary Education Innovation Centre of the University of Latvia organized a face-to-face course for geography and biology teachers. The participants studied the new topic of “School 2030” project “Research in the Forest” in nature, as part of which they took measurements in the sample plots prepared by LVM in the Vecumnieki Forest District.

As Ģirts Burgmanis, representative of the Inter-disciplinary Education Innovation Centre of the University of Latvia, emphasized in the introduction to the course, the interdisciplinary topic “Research in the Forest” provides an opportunity for teachers to connect learning with real life in the subjects such as geography, biology, mathematics, and technology together with students of grades 8-9. Forest research is possible in different environments, with appropriately designed tasks that can be easily integrated into the everyday life of the school. “It is a unique educational product in Europe that we can really be proud of,” adds Ģirts Burgmanis.

In the sample plots prepared by LVM, during the course, teachers together with LVM Senior Panner Kārlis Taukačs experienced the profession of a forester, comparing the amount of wood growing in two forest areas, or the stock, and analysing the differences found. The aim of the research is to show that the natural conditions of the forest stand, the composition of plant species and the amount of wood in the forest change with regular care and tending of the forest. Forest tending creates more favourable environment for tree growth.

Līga Abizāre, LVM Environmental Education Manager: “Such forest studies are available to every school in Latvia, because the worksheets are designed both for schools that are ready to go to LVM sample sites, and those that want to study in any forest, studying even individual trees. Before going into the forest, everyone can train their research skills in a digital environment through www.mezotajs.lv website, so that they can then apply these skills in field work and register for the competition for the best research.”

JSC “Latvia's State Forests” (LVM) offers continuing education courses for teachers who want to integrate the topic of forest in the teaching process. The professional development courses have been coordinated with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Latvia and are developed in cooperation with the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Innovation of the University of Latvia and the Continuing Education Centre of the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Institute. For more information, please visit www.lvm.lv/talakizglitiba

Teachers who participated in the course share their feedback: