2019

LVM Invites Teachers to Study Forest in Continuous Education Courses

In the framework of the “School 2030” project, a new interdisciplinary topic “Forests for 8th and 9th Grade Students” has been developed in cooperation with experts of the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Innovation at the University of Latvia and JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” (LVM); the course will start on 26 September.

Science, mathematics and technology teachers are invited to apply for the courses by 10 September by filling in an on-line form at https://www.lvm.lv/talak-izglitiba. The courses are offered free of charge and the number of participants is limited.

The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Latvia has already highlighted the topic “Forest Research” (Pētījums mežā) as one of the most successful examples of interdisciplinary teaching practice in the context of education reform. Within the framework of the topic, school students can, in an authentic context, develop a study on forest management opportunities, which is an important resource for Latvia. The topic is designed as a simulation of the day-to-day work of a forester, which involves determining and comparing the volumes of wood growing in two adjacent sections of a forest, analysing the reasons for their possible differences and deciding on future forest management. School students need to use their knowledge and skills in geography, biology, mathematics, chemistry, and technology to become a forester.

The aim of the research is to show students that the natural conditions of a 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 changes the growing conditions resulting in more favourable environment for tree growth. For more information please visit https://www.lvm.lv/petijumsmeza

The 12-hour (A) continuing education course “Development of Professional Competence of Teachers in Environmental Education on Sustainable Forest Management” is organised by JSC “Latvia’s State Forests” in cooperation with the Interdisciplinary Centre for Educational Innovation at the University of Latvia and the Forest and Wood Products Research and Development Institute.

Previous courses organised by LVM took place in July, when teachers drew inspiration and new knowledge for off-school learning to share with their students in the new school year. Course participants share their experience:

“The course made me think about how to deeply and comprehensively explore forests and forest-related processes, raising awareness among young people of the importance of nature in our lives for us to stay and feel comfortable and healthy on Earth, that we are responsible for what is happening around us. For theoreticians, this training course environment is a good opportunity to see and listen to practitioners-teachers face-to-face,” says a teacher from Babīte Municipality.

“The most important thing that I learned in these courses was the role of finding a compromise between forest management and environmental protection. The exchange of experience between the teachers is also important,” says a teacher from Liepāja.

A teacher from Kalnsēta emphasizes: “The more we go into nature, the healthier we and our children will be, both physically and mentally. And it is so simple, you just have to want it.”

“The most important thing is that forest and learning in forest environment form the basis for the students' understanding of the system in the forest. I hope that in the future people who really work with the younger generation will have the opportunity to attend such full-fledged courses, providing both new knowledge and insights for work as well as purposeful rest,” says a teacher from Saldus Municipality.

A teacher from Birzgale highly appreciated the inspiration gained at the courses. “The courses were a delight, the most exciting and emotional adventure this summer,” she said.