RCE Okayama - 2019
Let's tackle global warming! - Virtual Museum of Science Experience-
Region:
Asia-Pacific
Country:
Japan
Location(s):
Okayama City
Address of focal point institution for project:
14-6-1 2chome Tsushimafukui Kita-ku, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture, Japan
Ecosystem(s):
Target Audience:
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area :
Okayama City is rich in natural beauty with farmland, mountains and rivers, and people have lived in harmony with nature. The rapid economic growth after 1960 in Japan, also in Okayama made people’s lives convenient, though it caused negative impacts to natural environment. In addition, the city faces challenges such as aging society, inheritance of traditional culture, multi-cultural co-existence. To realize a sustainable development, various stakeholders including schools, learning community centers, civil society organizations, enterprises and municipality with different goals and focuses have been collaboratively promoting ESD since 2005.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses:
Natural disasters which are presumably caused by climate change might affect any corner of the world. The torrential rain in July last year strongly damaged Okayama City and surrounding areas, and many people became its victims. Today, reducing climate change is one of the global as well as local challenges. Okayama City revised the Action Plan for addressing global warming. It sets a goal to reduce green-house gasses by 26% in 2030 from the benchmark year 2013. 96% of the green-house gasses are CO2, and its 14.7% are emitted by households in according the research in 2013. The awareness raising and promote actions of citizens to reduce carbon footprint are inevitable. In this regards, environmental education and ESD are significantly important measures. Especially, awareness-raising from childhood is essential and can have a long-lasting effect.
Status:
Ongoing
Period:
April, 2013 to March, 2019
Rationale:
As written above, environmental problems, including climate change and global warming can have strong impact to our world. It is important that every person become aware of the urgency and relevance for addressing the challenges.
To understand the complex issues and tackle them, science and technology plays crucial role. In the activity of ‘Virtual Museum of Science Experience’, participants can obtain knowledge of science and global issues from a specialist (a senior staff of JAMSTEC). We made learning material with information technology and the material focus on various scientific topics. We also provide an opportunity to using avatar (alter ego in virtual 3D space) and smartphones. Touching on science and technology is the fastest way to raise the interest and obtain technical knowledge and skills. Visual learning material also helps participants to understand global issues or time series changing of the earth and human activity much easier than just lecture.
This project is run mainly by the local university students to nurture youths who can take initiatives for ESD and sustainable development.
To understand the complex issues and tackle them, science and technology plays crucial role. In the activity of ‘Virtual Museum of Science Experience’, participants can obtain knowledge of science and global issues from a specialist (a senior staff of JAMSTEC). We made learning material with information technology and the material focus on various scientific topics. We also provide an opportunity to using avatar (alter ego in virtual 3D space) and smartphones. Touching on science and technology is the fastest way to raise the interest and obtain technical knowledge and skills. Visual learning material also helps participants to understand global issues or time series changing of the earth and human activity much easier than just lecture.
This project is run mainly by the local university students to nurture youths who can take initiatives for ESD and sustainable development.
Objectives:
The project intends to inspire elementary and middle school students to become involved in ESD toward a low-carbon and sustainable society in the future by using learning method making full use of information technology (Virtual 3D space and VR). It raises interest in science and information technology with a special focus on global warming issues. Furthermore, it aims to develop ESD leaders with communication, explanatory, and practical skills by inviting local university students to take the initiative in planning and running the project.
Activities and/or practices employed:
We conduct environmental studies in the educational center in Okayama City mainly for elementary and junior high school students. A senior staff of JAMSTEC, an institution for earth information science and technology provides them with technical knowledge and various scientific topics such as global warming issues in virtual 3D space. The students take the lectures online. The learning environment allows interaction between the participants and the lecturer. In order to cultivate better understanding, participants can experience the virtual reality by using avatar and smartphones.
In addition, we set CO2 measuring equipment in some areas in Japan, including Okayama City and abroad to monitor CO2 emissions and compare the data. Under the guidance of local university students, participants learn the dynamics by the graph of CO2 concentration, and tried a quiz machine with the theme of CO2 concentration at the science museum reproduced in virtual 3D space.
In addition, we set CO2 measuring equipment in some areas in Japan, including Okayama City and abroad to monitor CO2 emissions and compare the data. Under the guidance of local university students, participants learn the dynamics by the graph of CO2 concentration, and tried a quiz machine with the theme of CO2 concentration at the science museum reproduced in virtual 3D space.
Size of academic audience:
About 2000 children until March 2019 (cumulative total)
Results:
The results of the questionnaire to the participants, elementary and middle school students revealed out that they deepened the sense of ownerships in global warming issues, and also understanding of science and information technologies. Furthermore, we encouraged some of the participants also to conduct researches on co2 concentration. Their research report won the prize four times in a scientific research contest at the University of Tsukuba. The results have been exhibited and explained at scientific events held annually at the Science Museum in Okayama City to help visitors reaffirm the importance of global warming countermeasures.
The university students voluntarily contributed to improving the existing learning materials. For example, they developed and revised environment quiz for lower grades elementary school students who cannot keep up with the lecture using the virtual science museum. The university students have been steadily growing into full-fledged players for ESD promotion.
The university students voluntarily contributed to improving the existing learning materials. For example, they developed and revised environment quiz for lower grades elementary school students who cannot keep up with the lecture using the virtual science museum. The university students have been steadily growing into full-fledged players for ESD promotion.
Lessons learned:
We recognized that our educational approach utilizing science and technology is effective for children to raise their awareness, analyze the data, understand the cause and effects, and take actions toward to realize a low-carbon society. We would like to improve and develop learning materials and methods to make the program applicable also in schools, other educational institutions and NPOs.
Relationship to other RCE activities:
RCE Tongyeong, Korea (co2sos sent a CO2 measuring machine to Tongyeong as the first step for further collaboration)
Funding:
Membership fee and donation to the non-profit organization co2sos, subsidy from Okayama municipal government (Okayama ESD Promotion Commission)
Pictures:
File Name | Caption for picture | Photo Credit |
---|---|---|
Scene of virtual museum in science museum in Okayama | NPO co2sos | |
Activity of using an avatar | NPO co2sos | |
Activity of environmental quiz.jpg (2.36 MB) | Activity of environmental quiz | NPO co2sos |
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Direct
SDG 13 - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Direct
SDG 17 - Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development
Direct
Disaster Risk Reduction
Indirect
Curriculum Development
Direct
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers
Direct
Priority Action Area 4 - Empowering and mobilizing youth
Direct
Update:
No