Solent-based company, The Earth Museum, is excited to win the Low Carbon Solent Sustainability Innovation award from GreenTech South in recognition for its work with Education and Outreach. Young people entering the workforce in 2040 have not yet started at primary school.
These are the generation that will live in and make happen the global net zero and digital third industrial revolution. The Earth Museum intends to play its part helping equip them with the knowledge, values, and skills they will need to thrive.
Designing and piloting a new global citizen programme for schools
Over the last three years it has been working with students at Gosport and Fareham Multi-Academy Trust and with Isle of Wight Museums and Schools to design and pilot a new global citizen programme for schools. ERDF-funded Emphasis3 and Low Carbon Solent support has enabled the creation of digital resources for classroom and in the field learning.
These link globally connected heritage stories found in museums, archives, and the landscape back to people and places as inspiration for examining and taking action as digital global citizens.
Using Earth Museum’s interactive digital maps
Starting during Covid lockdown, over 2,000 primary and secondary school students have used The Earth Museum’s interactive digital maps to explore Climate Change, World War 1, Rapa Nui Easter Island, and Isle of Wight history, in support of STEM, social action and geography subjects. Students and teachers are excited by the idea of going one stage further to create their own interactive maps featuring stories which particularly capture the imagination.
Create The Earth Museum has been designed as an interactive platform providing just such an opportunity, developed and tested with Solent-based primary and secondary school students. Participants are also keen to translate this learning into action. With support from Low Carbon Solent, The Earth Museum’s ‘Shrink Your Footprint’ programme is in development. It encourages students to map aspects of their individual and school carbon footprint, setting themselves challenges for reducing their impact.
Barton: Children enjoyed using The Earth Museum
Teachers at Barton Primary School in Newport on the Isle of Wight explained,
“Children enjoyed using The Earth Museum resource to explore the world map, uncovering artefacts found on the Isle of Wight, the UK and wider world.
“Geography skills were used when children uploaded their own drawings of Anglo-Saxon artefacts to The Earth Museum platform, and children were delighted to share their published work with parents online.”
Presenter of the Award, Clive Bonny of Strategic Management Partners, says,
“Janet’s committed vision and supporting actions are exactly in line with UN Sustainability goals to share social value across all parts of our community.”
Lu: Had a significant impact on student engagement and learning
Xin Lu, International Schools Coordinator at Gosport and Fareham Multi Academy Trust reflects:
“From our school’s perspective, The Earth Museum resources have had a significant impact on student engagement and learning.
“Through virtual tours, videos, images, and interactive maps on their website, our students can explore and research different geological formations, ecosystems, biodiversity, local history and culture, allowing them to engage with the subject matter on a deeper level.
“The field trip to the Isle of Wight further enhanced their engagement, making the learning process more enjoyable and also building a real-world connection to this project.”
Janet Owen, founding director of The Earth Museum, said,
“We’re really pleased with the learning impact of our innovative approach, even at this early stage in development. It’s a real delight to work with great teachers and students and a privilege for us to receive the Low Carbon Sustainable Innovation Award, in recognition of our collective journey so far.
“Now the real work begins, as we develop a new website and comprehensive learning programme; as well as start experimenting with how our interactive map experiences can eventually leap off the screen into immersive virtual and mixed reality realms.
News shared by Janet Owen, in her own words. Ed
