Loksa Gymnasium

River/Sea Study

Loksa, Estonia

2nd FUNDING CALL

The “River/Sea Study” project aims to enhance environmental awareness through practical education. This innovative project integrates a hands-on environmental science course into the school curriculum, allowing students to engage in fieldwork and data collection activities focused on the river Valgejõgi and the Baltic Sea.

Key Objectives:

1. Develop Practical Skills: The course provides students with real-world experiences in environmental monitoring and analysis.
2. Continuous Water Quality Monitoring: Establish automatic measurement stations for real-time public data on water quality, fostering community engagement.
3. Community Education: Raise local awareness of environmental issues affecting freshwater bodies and the Baltic Sea, promoting collective responsibility.

Activities:

1. Training and Lectures: Scientists will conduct sessions to provide foundational knowledge on biodiversity, water quality monitoring, and data analysis.
2. Installation of Measurement Stations: Students will install automatic stations to continuously monitor water quality parameters like pH, temperature, and sediment levels.
3. Publication and Analysis of Data: Real-time data will be shared publicly, with students and experts analyzing and discussing the results on a dedicated blog.
4. Student-Led Projects: Utilizing collected data, students will initiate projects on water quality improvement, ecological restoration, and community outreach.
5. Practical Course Component: Integrated into the curriculum, this component offers hands-on fieldwork, data collection, and analysis experiences.

Expanding Impact:

Students from other schools in the area (Kuusalu, Kolga, Vihasoo, Võsu) will face logistical challenges in engaging directly with the project’s day-to-day activities. However, the project promotes collaboration and knowledge sharing beyond the immediate school community. These schools will benefit indirectly from the project by accessing the data collected from the automatic measurement station and utilizing the educational materials developed for the course. These resources, including lesson plans, practical activities, and assessment tools, will be made available to other schools to enhance their environmental education curriculum.

Expected Outputs:

1. Course Materials: Comprehensive educational resources, lesson plans, and practical activities.
2. Published Data: Raw data from measurement stations made accessible online.
3. Data Analysis Blog: Insights and analyses shared in Estonian and English, highlighting environmental trends and conservation significance.
4. Project Summary in Local Media: Raise public awareness and showcase the project’s impact through local newspapers.

Future Plans:

The project’s innovation lies in its adoption of Open Schooling methodologies, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange beyond the school’s boundaries.

1. Open Course for Students from Other Schools: Future plans include opening the course to students from other schools. This initiative promotes inclusivity and shared learning experiences among diverse student populations.
2. Public Availability of Data: All project data will be made publicly accessible by sharing real-time data online. Transparency and participation in environmental monitoring efforts are encouraged, fostering community involvement and collaboration.
3. Indirect Education of the Community: Through outreach activities and dissemination of project findings in local media, the project aims to educate the wider community about environmental issues. By raising awareness and promoting discussion, the project seeks to inspire collective action and engagement in sustainable practices among the community.