VIENNA, 28 February 2023 - Organized by the University College of Christian Churches of Teacher Education Vienna/Krems (KPH) in co-operation with UNIS Vienna, this workshop for teachers of geography, economics, history, and political education started with a guided tour of the Vienna International Centre (VIC).
After the tour, Irene Hoeglinger-Neiva from UNIS Vienna welcomed the teachers and gave a presentation about the United Nations and the Sustainable Development Goals. She stressed the high value that the United Nations attributes to educational institutions: “We see educators as multipliers who can inspire young people on matters of concern to the UN.”
Sabine McCallum, Associate Programme Management Officer from the United Nations Environment (UNEP) Vienna office, spoke about the work and role of UNEP as a global authority setting the environmental agenda and advocating for effective environmental action. McCallum also talked about concrete projects in the field and invited the participants to visit the visual reality exhibition “Vanishing Treasures: protecting endangered mountain species” in the VIC Rotunda.
“Playing is the most intrinsic form of learning”, explained the organizer of the visit, Stefan Lamprechter from the KPH. As a teacher himself, Mr. Lamprechter presented various playful approaches such as planning games, role plays and simulations which can help to teach about the SDGs and conflicts over resources on land. Among these were the “Changemaker”, a group card game to learn about the SDGs, a justice experiment called “Rethinking Fairness”, and the “Baregg tunnel game” on sustainable transportation systems. To conclude, Lamprechter quoted Oliver Wendell Holmes: “People do not quit playing because they grow old, they grow old because they quit playing.”
