TESLA newsletter no. 4

NEWSLETTER No. 4, July 2022

Inside this issue

ERASMUS+ & eTwinning project 2019-1-HR01-KA229-060810

European conference Erasmus+ 4th LTT Estonia 2022 Advice for a successful presentation Describing systems Education for energy saving Teaching the European Green Deal

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European conference ”Erasmus+ green mobility + green schools” At the beginning of May 2022 (May 4 to 6), the training and cooperation activity "Erasmus + green mobility + green schools", the European conference on climate protection and sustainability in school education, was held in the German city Potsdam near Berlin. More than 230 participants from twenty EU countries were present at the conference.

During the conference, professor Marina Mirković from Technical School in Požega presented the three-year Erasmus+ project "Together in Environmental Solutions Learning Activities" (TESLA), of which she is the coordinator, through an exhibition and presentation.

The use of renewable energy sources is a key factor in the security of supply and the fight against climate change. The project encourages students' awareness of sustainable development through the use of renewable energy sources and conscientious use of energy. Partners in the project are schools from Estonia, Austria, Romania and Croatia.

The conference participants were addressed by: Dr. Stefanie Hubig, Minister of Education of the Federal State of Rhineland-Palatinate; Marta Gutierrez Bennet, Erasmus+ program coordinator for the Erasmus+ program, European Commission; Prof. dr. Matthias Barth, Professor of Education for Sustainable Development, Leuphan Faculty, University of Lüneburg, Germany, and Dr. Thomas Spielkamp, director of the German National Agency for the Erasmus+ program.

Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. In order to overcome these challenges, all 27 EU member states committed to the "Green Deal", to turn the EU into the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. The second generation of the Erasmus+ program (2021-2027) is an important instrument to support the implementation of the Green Deal. Therefore, environmental protection and sustainability are even more in the focus of the new program and are already addressed in many exchange projects in the school sector.

Green Erasmus aims to improve the ecological footprint of the program itself, and Erasmus+ projects want to contribute to a climate-neutral Europe. Traveling by more environmentally friendly means of transport, teaching skills for living in a sustainable and resource-efficient society, as well as promoting projects on green topics and using digitization can significantly contribute to this goal.

The conference highlighted projects that show how diverse and creative environmental protection and sustainability projects can be. Best practice projects from Lithuania, Luxembourg and Germany were presented: MEGA - Make our Environment Great Again, The safeguarding of the environment, SOS. – Save Our Sphere. With the support of experts, the conference participants reflected on the way in which environmental and climate protection can be included in projects, but also in everyday school life. The conference enabled networking of school representatives to find partners and discuss project proposals for mobility projects and activities related to climate protection and sustainability.

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The various contents that are presented enable the creation of creative activities that aim to raise awareness among school students and young people in general about the environment and climate emergency situations, and to empower and encourage them to take a stand for the environment and solve environmental problems in their communities.

Sustainability competencies can help students become systematic and critical thinkers, as well as develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to live, work and act sustainably as people who care about the current and future state of our planet. The meeting was held in the Kongresshotel Potsdam, a hotel certified as a "Green Hotel".

The conference was organized by the Pädagogischer Austauschdienst, Sekretariat der Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) with the support of the National Agency for Mobility and EU Programs (AMPEU).

Marina Mirković, project coordinator, Croatia

4th learning-teaching-training event, Estonia 2022 Estonia is a Baltic country. Estonia's population is 1,328,439 and its area is 45,339 km².

The capital of Estonia is Tallinn which is also the biggest city in Estonia. Half of Estonia's land is covered in forest and ⅕ of Estonia's land area is covered by wetlands and bogs.

Estonia is mostly flat but in Southern Estonia, at 318 meters from the sea level, stands the highest point of Estonia and the Baltics, called Suur Munamägi. There is also Rummu quarry, where there are ash hills and a blue lagoon where you can dive into water or have a tour of historical Rummu Prison.

In Saaremaa, there is a crater which was caused by a meteor hitting earth 7500 years ago. The highest natural waterfall is Jägala waterfall. Its height is about 8 meters. Estonia has coastline of 1242 km and 2222 islands. In winters, you can drive between islands using ice roads.

Estonia is divided into 15 counties and 79 municipalities. Second largest city is Tartu.

Riigikogu is a unicameral parliament of Estonia, which holds all legislative power. Executive power is held by the government which is led by prime minister. Estonia has e-government where virtually every public service can be accessed online.

In history, Estonian lands used to be in control of many foreign powers like German, Russian, Swedish, Danish, Polish etc. Estonia declared independence on 24 February 1918. In the aftermath of WW2, Estonia was kept under the rule of Soviet regime. Estonia restored its independence 20 August 1991.

Estonian is the official language of Estonia, and spoken natively by over a million people in the world. Estonian is a Fenno-ugric language, closely related to Finnish and Hungarian. Estonian is also hard to learn for foreigners.

Estonian team

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Estonian sights Tartu Tartu is the second-largest city in Estonia, after the political and financial capital, Tallinn. It is 186 kilometres southeast of Tallinn. Tartu lies on the Emajõgi river, which connects the two largest lakes in Estonia, Lake Võrtsjärv and Lake Peipsi. Tartu, the largest urban centre of southern Estonia, is often considered the "intellectual capital city" of the country, especially as it is home to the nation's oldest and most renowned university, the University of Tartu. Tartu also houses the Supreme Court of Estonia, the Ministry of Education and Research, the Estonian National Museum and the oldest Estonianlanguage theatre Vanemuine. It is also the birthplace of the Estonian Song Festivals. Tartu will be the European Capital of Culture in 2024.

University of Tartu The University of Tartu is a university in the city of Tartu in Estonia. It is the national university of Estonia. It is the only classical university in the country, and also its biggest and most prestigious university. It was founded under the name of Academia Gustaviana in 1632 by Baron Johan Skytte with the required ratification provided by Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus. Nearly 14,000 students are at the university, of whom over 1,300 are foreign students. The language of instruction in most curricula is Estonian, some more notable exceptions are taught in English, such as semiotics, applied measurement science, computer science, information technology law, and European Union–Russia studies. The historical buildings of the university are included in the European Heritage Label list as "embodiment of the ideas of a university in the Age of Enlightenment". The university is a member of the Coimbra Group and the Utrecht Network.

AHHAA Science centre Science Centre AHHAA is a science centre located in Tartu, Estonia, and is currently the largest science centre in the Baltic states. AHHAA was established to promote science and technology using interactive exhibits. Since 7 May 2011, Science Centre AHHAA has been in the building located in the centre of Tartu. AHHAA was established as a project of the University of Tartu on 1 September 1997.

Since 2004 it has operated as a foundation constituted by the city of Tartu and the University of Tartu. The practical aspects of the activities of the foundation are appraised by a science committee composed of experts.

AHHAA is governed by the board consisting of two members.

Estonian Mining Museum An underground museum has been opened in the former Kohtla mines. An excursion with a guide shows how oil shale is mined and the machinery and technology that is used to do

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so. Visitors can take an underground train and try their hand at drilling. The above-ground exhibits and underground visits give an overview of mining history. The museum provides every visitor with a special jacket, helmet and miner’s lamp.

The museum is based at a mine that began production in 1937.

Shale from shallower deposits was extracted by open-cast working. Visitors are able to go 1 km underground on a train, to explore the working face of the mine, and to eat underground the typical lunch of a mid-20th century miner. On the surface there are buildings where oil-bearing shale was separated from other stones, and towers where it was burned. The museum has a collection of oil paintings of the mines, and a display of equipment includes Esku, the 50-ton-heavy bucket of a very large mechanical excavator used in open-cast workings.

Meenikunno Bog Cabins for hikers, an observation tower and a boardwalk attract many nature lovers to the Meenikunno bog. It is a beautiful recreation area. While walking down the boardwalk, you can see the most common bog plants: leather leaf, bog rosemary, crowberry, Marsh Labrador tea, and tussock cottongrass; at the edge of the bog, dwarf birches can also be found. There are also a number of different species of peat moss of various colours. The bravest hikers can try drinking bog water (it has an interesting taste!) from the overgrown ditch near the edge of the bog. Good to know: A new boardwalk has been constructed for the Meenikunno hiking trail extending from Päikeseloojangu forest cabin to Lake Suur Soojärv. The boardwalk is pram and wheelchair accessible.

Tallinn Tallinn is the capital city of Estonia and a perfect holiday destination if you want to combine the comforts of modern world and luxurious adventures with rich cultural scene in the local historical setting. First established in the early medieval era, today’s Tallinn is an exciting mix of old and new. Tallinn is a compact, green capital.

Tallinn Old Town is one of the best preserved Hanseatic town centres in the world. A stone’s throw away is the city’s business centre with modern towers and luxurious hotels, trendy neighbourhoods and large shopping centres. The coastal vibe Tallinn’s luring coastline dotted with promenades and sandy beaches is especially rewarding during the summer but offers scenic views of the iconic cityscape throughout the year. Tallinn city centre is never more than 15-minutes drive away regardless of if you happen to arrive by plane, train, coach or ferry.

Estonian team

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Impressions from visiting Estonia I felt great here in Estonia. I took part in unique activities and did a lot of fun stuff.

Apart from the fact that I have visited a foreign country, I have had the opportunity to meet some interesting people. I enjoyed all the activities we did, my favorite one being rafting. I really love the hotel's location. It being very central has helped me find the things I was looking for very fast. Overall, this Erasmus+ project has left me with very positive feelings.

Aaron, Romania Monday, the first day I liked to walk in the city. It was interesting and wasn’t too long.

In free time, we were in the Science Center which was the most interesting visit of the day.

Tuesday, the second day, I was a little bit tired but I really enjoyed walking on the swamp. The guide was interesting and knew a lot about that swamp, which was nice to hear. The atmosphere on the barbeque was nice and warm, nice looking view, food was delicious. I enjoyed the rafting too. We laughed a lot, padle a lot which was exhausting but everything was nice. The workshop on Wednesday was interesting. I enjoyed the topic but presentation was too long for me.

Adam, Croatia On Monday we had a walk around the town of Tartu.

We learned that Tartu is students town and we visited the University of Tartu. In the afternoon my group visited AHHAA Science Centre which was fun. Tuesday, we went walking on the bog and learned about it. After that we went rafting. Wednesday, we had a walk around the school and learned how to make our presentations be better David, Croatia Tallinn is a really old and beautiful City. We were really tired because we passed the bus to Tartu. But we could see the city. On Monday we had a sightseeing in Tartu. It is a really beautiful city. In the AHHAA museum was really interesting funny things in there. I had really much fun. I could do and see a lot of things in the museum. On Tuesday we were walking on the bog and I could see the lake and the forest. We eat near the lake. The rafting started really funny and it became boring and we were tired. The school in Estonia is really clean.

Emujin, Austria The last few days were fun but also interesting and exhausting. On Monday I really liked the Science centre because you can try out experiments and things and it was really funny. I also liked the walking tour on Monday because it was interesting to see some Estonian sights. On Tuesday, we were hiking, which was cool. I enjoyed rafting the most, it was really fun but it was too long and I was exhausted after that. Today we drove to the school and had a presentation on how to present which was good to know for the next presentation what to do and what not to do.

Eva, Austria

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Monday, my first day in Tartu was amazing. We met up with the other groups from other countries. After that we went on a city tour with the geography teacher, she was really nice to talk to as well. Later we took a lunch break to relax and eat something. We visited AHHAA Science Centre and it was really cool. We played basketball with the Austrians and and loved it. Tuesday, early in the morning we went to the bog by bus. We walked around in the swamp and got a bit wet as well by accident. After that, we went rafting in the river with international groups. It was really fun and we finished 3rd. Later, I took the drone we brought and took amazing pictures of people still rafting. Wednesday, we went to Kanepi school in the morning to learn how to make better presentations along with other countries. We ate lunch and had discussions later. I have great memories already from Estonia and the people are amazing.

Kruno, Croatia The last few days have been really interesting. We took part in many activities that were totally new to me, such as walking on a bog. We initially arrived on Sunday, I felt excited for the activities waiting for us. On Monday, we visited the university, the Ahhaa Science Center and went to a waterpark. The day left me a bit tired, but also really happy. Tuesday felt even more active with the walk on the bog and rafting. This is a unique experience I’ll never forget.

Miruna, Romania On May 10, 2022, we spent a day in nature. The bus took us to the forest and then we walked through the forest, took pictures and enjoyed the beautiful surroundings. We climbed the tower from which we could get a beautiful view of nature. Then we walked on Meenikunno bog which brought us to the lake near which we had a barbecue. Then we went rafting on the river for 3 hours which was very exciting and interesting experience.

Petra, Austria The last few days have been amazing. I was amazed by the AHAA Science Center. The second day, when we visited the bog, the guide's explanations impressed me and walking with the special shoes was an interesting experience. The trip on the river was very calm and relaxing but challenging. I hope I will have another experience like this.

Andrei, Romania I arrived in Tartu, Estonia few days ago. I’ve got many new experiences here, meeting new friends walking around. Monday we went to AHHAA Science Center where we had a great time. A couple of hours later, we went to Aura Waterpark. Tuesday we walked through the bog, it was my first time and I enjoyed the most of it. Afterwards, we tried rafting. It was complicated at first, but after the one and a half hours we got the hang of it. So far, I liked my stay in Tartu and I'm sure it will only get better and better.

Edward, Romania On Tuesday we went rafting with all the ERASMUS groups and it was my first time rafting. It was really cool, I enjoyed it. The river was calm but it also had a few rapids, which made it a good combination. We all ate together too and the food was quite good. On Monday

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we had a city mini tour and we went to the AHHAA museum. I loved going there, it was really fun.

Nereea, Austria Monday, we went for an overview of Tartu, we saw a lot of things which were useful. We didn’t know the town so the overview was really useful. After that we decided to go to the science center. On Tuesday, we went for an adventure in Bog and learned a lot about the place. After that we went rafting which was Amazing! Loved it. Thursday, we went to Kanepi where we visited the school, we learned how unprofessional our presentations were and how to improve them. Then we had a workshop.

Vedran, Croatia The last few days have been special and amazing. We arrived four days ago in Tallinn airport. It was really beautiful. Afterwards we took a bus and went to Tartu. Monday we visited the city center and a very impressive university. The fact that there were old prisons in the university impressed me. Although, Tuesday was my favorite day, because we visited the bog.

Then we went rafting and it was my first time rafting. All in all, I have really liked my stay in Estonia and would love to visit it again.

Dragoș, Romania Monday, we had a tour around Tartu which was really interesting and the city is just beautiful and so clean and there is so much to see. I'm glad we visited the university because I learnt a lot about the history of education in Estonia. We also went to AHHAA science center and it was super fun and educational. Tuesday, we went for a walk around the forest and learnt about bog. After that we went rafting for 15 kms. It was so fun but super exhausting.

Wednesday, we had a tour around Kanepi school and learnt about improving presentations. After that we had a workshop together. And I would like to say that the organization is great and everything is well thought out and I'm really enjoying my time in Estonia. Šimun, Croatia I am always impatient when I find new and unique things and this trip made me realize how much there is to discover. This travel with the ERASMUS+ project came all of a sudden.

I arrived on Sunday, in the Tallinn Airport and I was so excited to visit a new country. I was incredibly pleased to see how clean the strelets and the cities are. The people were very nice and I admire the fact that they had the patience to listen to my first ever dialogue in Estonian.

The hotel was incredible and I liked the food. On Monday we visited the Tartu city center and I was deeply pleased to observe how clean it was and to find out that you can’t drink on the streets. We visited AHHAA Science Center which was an incredible way to experience physics. Then we went to the Aura waterpark, another incredible and clean place, but it was really cold inside. On the third day, we went to Meenikunno bog. This place was astonishing and I enjoyed it so much. Then we went rafting. Even if it was quite tiring, I loved the view.

Andrei Croitoru, Romania

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Estonia as we saw it Riigikogu – the Estonian Parliament The Riigikogu is the parliament of Estonia. In Estonia there is a unicameral system.

The Riigikogu meets in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. According to the Estonian Constitution, the Riigikogu has 101 members, each elected for a four-year term. Estonian citizens who are 18 years old on election day and who are not in prison because of a court conviction are entitled to vote. April 23, 1919 is the birthday of the Estonian Parliament. The Riigikogu is open to the public all year round, you can even take a guided tour free of charge.

The Riigikogu building After World War I, the Empires of Russia and Austria-Hungary collapsed, and several new states were founded in Europe. Of these new states, the Republic of Estonia was the first who decided to build a new parliamentary building. The medieval convent building that had been burned down during the February Revolution in 1917 was chosen to be the site for the building. Thus, in 1920–1922 the Riigikogu building, designed by architects Eugen Habermann and Herbert Johanson, was erected right in the heart of the ancient Toompea stronghold. Three-storeyed building with four wings is built on medieval foundations around the trapeze-shaped inner courtyard. The outer facade of the building is decorated by three entrances, and above them, large windows of the Chamber, which are surrounded by decoration consisting of black triangles made of Finnish granite.

Tallinn City Wall The oldest sections of the Tallinn city wall date back to the 13th century. In the course of the following three centuries the wall was supplemented and got its final shape. At that time it was one of the largest and strongest protection systems in Northern Europe.

Today, a little more than half of the aboveground part of this powerful system has been preserved – a 1.85 km long front of the wall, 26 protective towers, 2 intermediate gates and parts of the front gate. A good view of the city wall opens form the Patkul viewing platform, many towers are open to visitors. You can also walk on a small part of the wall that connects the Nunne, Sauna and Kuldjala towers. From the wall opens a beautiful view of the Old Town and Cathedral Hill.

Nerea, Erna, Austrian team

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Epping Tower The Epping Tower is a defense tower in the capital city Tallinn. It is located on the northwest side of the city.

The neighboring towers are in the north the Plate tower and in the south the Grusbeke tower. The tower dates to the 14th century and is now designed as a shaped shell tower.

The Epping tower was built around 1370 and it was one of the fastest tower constructions in the city. The tower was named after the construction manager Thiderico th Eppingh. In the 15 century the tower was renamed, and it was called the tower behind the Oleviste Pastorate.

The gun ports are in the second and third floor The tower was unchanged until the 18th century. It is known for their wooden staircase which you can reach into the tower. The interior of the tower was to be later demolished in the second half of the 19th century. During the Estonian SSR period the boiler house of the KGB and the Ministry of Interior were located Alexander-Newski Cathedral The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is an orthodox cathedral in Tallinn Old Town, Estonia. It was designed by Mikhail Preobrazhensky in the typical Russian Renaissance style between 1894 and 1900, during the period when the country was part of the Russian Empire. It is the largest Orthodox cathedral in the dome in Tallinn. It is dedicated to St. Alexander Nevsky, who won the Battle of the Ice on Lake Peipus in 1242, in the territorial waters of present-day Estonia. The late Russian patriarch, Alexy II, began his priestly ministry in the church.

Alexander Nevsky Cathedral crowns Toompea Hill, which is one of the few places where, according to legend, the Estonian national hero Kalevipoeg is said to have been buried by Father Kalev. As the USSR was officially non-religious, many churches, including this cathedral, remained in decline. The church has been thoroughly rebuilt since Estonia gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Toompea Castle and Pikk Hermann Tower Toompea castle is a historic seat af power and is now home to the parliament. Since the German Knights of the Sword first built a stone fortress here in 1227-29, every foreign empire that ruled Estonia used the castle as its base.

Today, appropriately, it's home to Estonia's Parliament.

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The castle has been revamped countless times through the centuries, but still retains the basic shape it was given in the 13th and 14th centuries. From its front, visitors can see a pink, Baroque palace dating to the time of Catherine the Great. A look at its opposite side, visible from the base of the hill, gives a much more medieval perspective.

From the Governor's Garden at the castle's southern edge, the 46-metre Pikk Hermann tower comes into view. The tower is a vital national symbol: tradition dictates that whichever nation flies its flag over Pikk Hermann also rules Estonia. Each day at sunrise the Estonian flag is raised above the tower to the tune of the national anthem.

The tower is not usually open to the public, but the parliament can be visited on a guided tour.

Eva, Petra, Emujin, Austrian team AHHAA Science Center AHHAA’s mission is to shape the knowledgebased mindset through the joy of discovery. AHHAA’s four basic values are knowledgeability, awesomeness, professionalism and friendliness. They are original and innovative, their activities are based on facts, science and experience. They value education, they are a reliable partner and they are always open to new ideas.

Abb. 2: AHHAA centre from the inside

AHHAA’s vision is to be the Baltics’ most preferred science and education center for all ages. AHHAA has inspiring exhibitions, popular thematic events and attractive program in Estonia, Russian, English and Latvian The pressure of a water column What to do?

Place your hand between the membranes, push the button and watch how the pipe start filling up with water. If you feel that the pressure is too much for your hand, release the button.

What does it mean?

Regardless of the diameter of the pipe, the pressure stays the same. The pressure of a water column depends on its height and the thickness of the liquid. -Divers are affected by the pressure of the water above them, no matter the size of the body of water.

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The House of Shanghai What to do?

Step inside of the house and try walking, couching or stand with closed eyes. Observe the movement of the ball in the middle of the room.

What does it mean?

Usually, our surroundings are stable and rectangular. That is why the brain projects the details in shapes of rectangular even when we are looking at three dimensional elements drawn on plane surface. Due to the distortion of the conventional perception of space in this slanted room a conflict between vision and other senses occurs.

Inverted Maze and drawing What to do?

Try to draw or solve the maze while only seeing your hand in a mirror.

What does it mean?

Based on experience in the real world the brain expects certain motions to happen based on input given to your muscles. This makes working in the mirror world difficult as the visible output is different from expectation.

In terms of the real motion of your hand behind the mirror, the brain is right, but since what you expect to see is mirrored, doing the right thing is difficult. You can try to write with your eyes closed for comparison – the result is significantly better.

Erna, Petra, Nerea, Eva, Emujin, Austrian team

Oil shale in Estonia Oil shale is an organic-rich fine-grained sedimentary rock containing kerogen. Oil shale is used as a power source to generate electricity. Oil shale can also be refined to shale oil which can be used to produce other commercial products such as ammonia and sulfur. Spent oil shale rock can be used in cement. Estonia is the only country in the world that uses oil shale as its primary energy source. One of the biggest oil shale companies in Estonia is Eesti Energia (Enefit). There were more oil shale companies in Estonia like Eesti Kiviõli, Eesti Küttejõud, Eestimaa Õlikonsortsium and Enefit Kaevandused. Five oil shale mines are in operation; three are open-pit mines and two are underground mines. The underground mine at Väike-Pungerja, operated by Enefit Power, a subsidiary of Eesti Energia, is the largest oil shale mine in the world.

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Peat in Estonia Peat is an organic surface layer of a soil which has accumulated under conditions of waterlogging, oxygen deficiency, high acidity and nutrient deficiency. Peat also has a slow growth rate. Peat is used in horticulture, biofiltration body care and is also used as energy source. Peatlands are globally important ecosystems for their habitats, carbon sink and freshwater reservoir functions. Estonia is among the most peatland-rich countries worldwide with ca 20%. The Life Mires project was part of Estonia’s climate action plan. The project was used in 80 000 acres in 89 different locations. Places that were part of the project in Estonia were Sirtsisoo, Soosaare, Feodorisoo and Tudusoo. Project ran until 2021 Wood in Estonia Forests cover about 50% of the territory of Estonia, or around 2 million hectares. Before the advent of agriculture in Estonia, the land area covered by forests was approximately 80%. Estonia displays a great variety in forest types. Two main types are forests growing on mineral soil and swamp forests. There are also forests that are protected by RMK. There is no forest management in strictly protected woodlands, with only nature conservation work, which is needed in order to preserve and restore protected species and habitats, being performed.

Wood is a natural product and is one of the most versatile and beautiful materials available to us providing a long-term sustainable solution to endless applications. Wood is used as fuel, construction material, furniture, for making tools, for making paper etc. There are also sawmills where logs are cut into lumber. There are sawmills in Estonia like Toftan AS, Viiratsi Sawmill Ltd and many more. Lumber and wood products are created in the wood industry from the trunks and branches of trees.

Tauri, Imre Gabriel, Kevin and Henry, Estonian team

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Pieces of advice for a successful presentation • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Introduce yourself and explain what qualifies you for the presentation Never turn your back to the audience Don´t pass on the microphone from side to side (covering the presentation) – stand on one side and hand it on to the person beside you Arrange for sequence and how to pass on the microphone Don´t read the text from the slide – the audience can read anyway – add additional information, maybe some fun facts, look for a wow effect – the slides only support your presentation Slides are there to hold you on track and avoid losing your thread If there is a team presentation, introduce all members of the team at the beginning One person should present one topic (3 – 4 slides), not just one slide When presenting a table, point your hand to illustrate what is shown on the table Headphones and microphones are your extension to the public, breathing should not mess up your speech, fix the distance of microfone Slides should include interesting information Train yourself to speak freely – if you hold a folder and a microphone, your hands are occupied Use the notes function in PowerPoint that only the presenter can see If you can't use the clicker, stand next to your computer to switch slides Use the clicker, the switching slides is smooth and unnoticed to the audience Make sure your slides appear in a correct manner, so try out first in case there is a different software Make sure the text fits in the slide, don’t use too bright or neon colors, don´t use a black background Figures: text in figures should fit in Headlines on slides should not cover the text Ask organisers about technical details before the actual presentation If you use a picture, say why you use that picture, not what it is – your audience sees it anyway Don´t talk monotonously!

Don´t use words you don´t understand!

Read through your notes before you start!

If you run out of time, don´t say „I will pass that over“, present each slide you have prepared briefly If you are part of the audience, turn off your mobile phones and be silent, respect the presenter Don´t play around with your mobile phone Aiki Parle, Estonia, Michael Huber-Kirchberger, Austria

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Describing Systems Croatian national competition and exhibition "Describing Systems" was held on May 19 and 20, 2022 in Trogir. 20 invited students from the Republic of Croatia participated, divided into two competition categories (A - 1st and 2nd grade students, B - 3rd, 4th and 5th grade high school students).

Student Emanuel Grbac from Technical school in Pozega participated with the work "Traveling through the Erasmus project system" and won 5th place in the B category.

His mentor is professor Marina Mirković.

In his work, Emanuel describes the process of implementing the Erasmus+ project, along with his own experiences from two Erasmus+ school partnership projects of the Technical School, in which he participates as a studentcoordinator. He also shows the development of the Erasmus projects throughout history. The emphasis is on the development of the project and the goals that we trying to achieve. A step in the acquisition of knowledge was the student's contact with project coordinators from various countries, but also his own experience. The student conducted an online survey with students from seven different countries in order to get information on how useful the Erasmus project is in developing student competencies and what it means for them to be part of an international project, that is, what they think about the way the project is implemented and whether there are any problems or shortcomings. The goal of the essay is to show the reader the implementation of the Erasmus project, to point out the essential elements that must be met in order for the project to be successful, and to share the experiences of students and professors in the projects.

Ten students participated in each category of Competitions and Shows. After completing the research work and taking the knowledge test, the students presented their research papers and answered the questions of the members of the State Commission.

In this competition, the topic is observing, describing and understanding systems from our environment. In the project, prior knowledge from natural sciences, technology and social and humanities is applied. On the first day of the competition, students solved a task consisting of a description of the system and questions related to the description.

The second day of the competition was followed by a public presentation of the work, which consists of a presentation and answers to questions. The criteria for evaluating public presentations are: scientific thinking, creative ability, understanding, clarity of expression, presentation value, and professional and language norms.

The organizers of the National Competition and Exhibition are Ministry of Science and Education, Agency for Education and Croatian Interdisciplinary Society.

Marina Mirković, Croatian team

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Survey on Erasmus+ projects The survey on Erasmus+ projects was conducted among students participating in the SKILLS and TESLA projects. Based on that survey, I wrote a seminar paper for the competition. From that survey, I learned how students view the Erasmus+ projects they participate in and what their impressions are. It turned out that students really see these projects as a very useful thing in the field of their student development.

For this competition, I needed a survey that I conducted among the students from the projects. By going to that competition, I got the opportunity to present both projects in which our school participates (SKILLS and TESLA). Such a way of presenting projects was truly a great honor for me, because I got the opportunity to present both projects in front of professors and students from all over Croatia. Such a way of presenting projects at the state level was significant for our projects to be widely recognized. At the same time, I think that I encouraged people from that competition to think more about projects and their benefits for schools, but not only for schools but also for people around the world.

Emanuel Grbac, Croatian team

Education for energy saving The climate neutral talent The BHAK Linz International Business School is part of an Erasmusplus consortium in Austria called the ecological talent. It involves 700 schools and 8,000 teachers, I am in the so called initiative group, which is the core group of that consortium.

The aim is to foster climate and environmental education at schools and to devise plans and teaching materials.

The logo was picked from a game called DKT, in German: „Das Kaufmännische Talent“, a game that has been around very successfully for decades and is produced by the Viennese company PIATNIK. Asked whether their DKT logo could be used by the consortium, the company not only agreed, but encouraged us to hand in ideas for an environmental game that is produced with entirely biodegradable materials.

It has been out for some weeks and I have already played it with my students, who were very happy about it and have given positive feedback. Not only can they play, they also learn facts about the SDGs, there is a brochure about the SDGs included, and cards used in the game are linked to the SDGs. The aim of the game is to win or lose together. There is a climate marker that moves up and down, you can convert caloric power plants into sustainable power plants, you learn about the consequences of the weather extremes and there are also social aspects to be heeded.

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All in all, I think it is a very good concept and shall be spread among Austrian schools.

Our school will even get one for free from PIATNIK. There is even the plan to translate it into English, so that it can be played in international groups.

Michael Huber-Kirchberger, Austrian team Passive house

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The passive house is a house which meets certain criteria from Darmstadt institute.

There are five criteria’s that a house needs to be a passive house.

These are the following five criteria: A very good thermal insulation standard A triple thermal insulation glazing Airtight building envelope Controlled living space ventilation with heat recovery Avoidance of thermal bridges There are also three different types of the passive house.

The passive house classic The passive house plus The passive house premium, which is the best one Source: https://www.passivhaus.at/passivhaus/passivhaus-im-detail/ Blower door test A blower – door test is used for measuring the air pressure in a house.

If you want your house to be certified as a “Efficient – house” you will have to take such a test. Based on the results, in some countries you get financial support if you reach a certain level. Usually, a blower door test takes about two hours.

Before the test it is important to cover every area airtight like windows or doors. Now there is going to be a blower installed into your door. It is going to fill up your house with air constantly. During this process the leakage of air is captured.

The price can be about 300€ - 400€. It depends on the size of the house and the duration of the test.

Informations: Blower Door Test - DBI-Europe Blower Door Test Pflicht » Wann notwendig / erforderlich? (gebaeudemesstechnikbeyermann.de) Was ist ein Blower Door Test? | Energieausweis Arch Korab ZT (energieausweisarchkorab.at) Blower-Door-Test: Durchführung, häufige Fehler & Kosten (energie-experten.org)

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Controlled domestic ventilation With the help of this system, there is a constant exchange of air in the building. A careful designed ductwork is often used to balance the system across the building.

The used air is replaced by fresh and filtered air with the ventilation system. Ventilation systems are also used to prevent heat loss in the living space.

The heat of the exhaust air is transferred to the air coming from outside.

There are many benefits which this system provides.

Fresh air is always in the room, and you do not have to open your windows. This system improves the quality of your life, for your room has a healthy and cosy climate anytime. It is also a relief for allergy sufferers, as the dust, pollen and mites are kept within bounds. Humid air in room is automatically discharged, therefore the room is protected from mould. Due to the use of exhaust air heat, you can reduce heating costs.

Sources: https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/ventilation , https://www.pluggit.com/portal/en/what-are-the-advantages-of-a-controlled-roomventilation-system--2621 https://www.passivhaus.at/passivhaus/passivhaus-abc/ Energy certificate The primary objective of the EA is to serve as an information resource for homeowners, residents and real estate industry stakeholders. Our energy certificate adheres to the guidelines of the EU In the case of new construction, renovation, modification or expansion of buildings, an energy certificate is issued which, in addition to other parameters, also discloses the energy index of the building.

This number tells you how much energy the building needs per living square meter per year for space heating. According to this number, the house is then classified into different categories. Only houses in the A++ category are passive houses.

Abb. 1: Expertise requirements of EA exhibitors in the 28 EU Member1965 States.and before that has required an energy Every residential building built before performance certificate since July 1st, 2008. This validity of the card expired in July 2018. The mandatory requirement certificate has been in effect since October 1st, 2018 for all old buildings with up to four residential units and built in 1977 and older.

The expertise of the issuer of the energy certificates is considered to be one of the most influential factors affecting the quality but also the cost of the certificates Specific training is mandatory in only 14 out of 28 Member States. In some of these are only if there is a lack of professional qualifications and experience.

Sources: https://www.bpie.eu https://www.passivhaus.at/passivhaus/passivhaus-abc/

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Heat recovery ventilation is a technical process in which the energy of one substance is transferred to another. In the living area, it is usually about making the heat from the room air that is no longer required, which usually about making the heat from the room air thaat is no longer required, which usually has a temperature of 20 degrees Celcius and more, usable for heating.

This saves not only the heating costs, but also relieves the climate. Thermal energy recovery is used in various ways in this regard. The best known is probably the already mentioned lliving space ventilation with heat recovery.

However, vertain types of heat pumps also make use of this principle.

Types: o Recuperative heat recovery with separate material flows o Regenerative heat recovery with heat storage medium o Heat recovery with heat pumps Advantages: Reduces carbon footprint Lower energy usage Cleaner indoor air

Disadvantages Space usage No cooling

Sources: https://www.home-dzine.co.za/home-Improvement/improve-heat-recovery-system.html https://heizung.de/heizung/wissen/waermerueckgewinnung-arten-und-vorteile/ Heat Balance The heating balance of a building generally relates to the amount of heat that leaves the building or enters the building in various ways.

Heat can essentially enter a building via the following mechanisms: With the help of a heating system, heat can be brought into a building in a targeted manner, e.g. by radiators or underfloor heating.

In addition, there are various internal heat sources that result in internal heat gains. For example, people constantly give off heat to a building; On the other hand, heat can escape primarily in the following ways: Every building has some form of transmission heat loss: Heat escapes to the outside through the heat conduction mechanism as long as the outside temperature is lower than the inside temperature.

You can optimize the solar gains in your home by providing big window areas on the south side and orienting the house optimally to the sun if possible. It is quite possible to achieve a balanced heat balance even without the supply of heating heat on most days if the house is

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technically optimally designed. A regular heating system can then be dispensed with, as only a kind of emergency heating is required for particularly unfavorable (very cold and at the same time cloudy) days. This is the concept of the passive house.

30% of heat loss is through the roof Between 20 and 25% through the walls 7% by the floor 13% by the glazing Sources https://passiv.de/former_conferences/Passive_House_E/energybalance.html http://nesa1.uni-siegen.de/wwwextern/idea/keytopic/3.htm Photovoltaic energy Solar cells, which are typically mounted on home roofs, convert radiant energy from the sun into electrical energy. Photovoltaics is one of the most cost-effective energy sources available today. In the last fifteen years, the cost of photovoltaic systems has decreased by 75%.

How does it function? Silicon is the most important component in solar systems. A phosphorus upper layer (5 outer electrons) and a boron lower layer (3 outside electrons) are also created. Due to an unstable number of outer electrons, a boron boundary layer with four outer electrons in the middle is formed, resulting in a positive pole at the top and a negative pole at the bottom. Two conductive metals are also installed on the outside and are connected by a cable. All you need now is some sunshine! When this glows, the electrons begin to move and glide up almost step by step, forming a cycle. The reference to the passive house is that the energy supply with electricity becomes almost independent.

In order to be able to use the yield of the sun in the evening, a power storage is ideal Sources: https://www.dachgold.at/photovoltaik-kosten/ https://www.fronius.com/de/solarenergie/eigenheim Storage for Electricity Electricity cannot itself be stored on any scale, but it can be converted to other forms of energy which can be stored and later reconverted to electricity on demand.

Energy can be stored in a variety of ways, including: Batteries Like common rechargeable batteries, very large batteries can store electricity until it is needed.

Pumped hydroelectric Electricity is used to pump water up to a reservoir. When water is released from the reservoir, it flows down through a turbine to generate electricity Compressed air Electricity is used to compress air at up to 450 kg per 6 square centimeter and store it, often in underground caverns. When electricity demand is high, the pressurized air is released to generate electricity through an expansion turbine generator.

Flywheels

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Electricity is used to speed up a flywheel. When the energy is needed, the spinning force of the flywheel is used to turn a generator. Some flywheels use magnetic bearings, operate in a vacuum to reduce drag, and can attain rotational speeds up to 60,000 revolutions per minute.

Thermal energy storage Electricity can be used to produce thermal energy, which can be stored until it is needed. For example, electricity can be used to produce chilled water or ice during times of low demand and later used for cooling during periods of peak electricity consumption.

Thermal bridge is the movement of heat over an object. Thermal bridging can be a major source of energy loss in homes and buildings. This leads to higher utility bills.

A thermal bridge can be created in residential home construction by the studs in the wall.

Material-related thermal bridges are caused by a change in thermal conductivity within one or more component layers.

Typical thermal bridges are beams in roofs, columns or webs in external walls or fasteners.

Heat always moves in the direction of the cold. Heat from the outside works its way across the studs into your air-conditioned space in the summer.

The thermal bridge created by the wood studs in the house must be broken through a continuous insulation to help reduce this energy loss. One of the most affordable times to add a continuous blanket of insulation to an existing home is when new siding is installed.

Sources: https://www.progressivefoam.com/thermal-bridging-and-how-to-stop-it/ Thermography is an imaging process to make infrared or thermal radiation visible to the human eye. With the help of thermography, the heat radiation of buildings can be examined and defects in the shell can be identified.

In thermography, a thermal imaging camera is aimed at the building envelope. It measures the thermal radiation of the different parts of the building. The roof is examined in the same way as the outer walls, windows and doors.

Areas that appear red on the thermal imaging camera show places where the house is losing heat. At this point, for example, the facade is poorly insulated or the windows are leaking.

Blue or darker areas indicate cold spots in thermography. The house therefore emits little or no heat in these areas.

Red: warm/hot Blue: cold Green: transition colour Amina, Katharina, Merve Elina, Emujin, Nerea, Lukas, Anna, Austrian team

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Teaching the European Green Deal From June 29th to July the 1st 2021, the European Union Center at the University of Illinois organized its online summer curriculum workshop on the topic ”Teaching the European Green Deal”. This organization is responsible for organizing each school year a Transatlantic Educators Dialogue as well as lectures, conferences and a lot of other events meant for teachers from America and Europe.

During the 3 days of online workshop, there were presentations followed by discussions on climate policy, post pandemic economic and social recovery plan, strategies for incorporating climate science instructions into the curriculum as well as creating lesson plans that fit the topic in various subjects.

In the beginning, Bruce Murray, Professor and Retired Director of the Illinois Program in Vienna, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign had an introduction to the European Green Deal, a set of policy initiatives approved by the European Commission in 2020, with the overarching aim of making the European Union climate neutral in 2050. It also contains an impact assessed plan to increase the EU's greenhouse gas emission reductions target for 2030 to at least 50% and towards 55% compared with 1990 levels. The plan is to review each existing law on its climate merits, and also introduce new legislation on the circular economy, building renovation, biodiversity, farming and innovation.

Another important point on the agenda was the presentation on using primary documents in teaching the European green deal, supported by Mr. Lucas Henry, Academic Programs Coordinator at the European Union Center, University of Illinois.

During the second day, Marinela Krstinić Nižić, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, University of Rijeka, had a presentation on powering a climate neutral economy, starting with the presentation of the university, the European Green Deal and the strategies implemented in Croatia and finished with the role that the local government and the citizens should play in the transition from passive consumers to active participants. Her colleague, Zvonimira Šverko Grdić, also presented a study about environmental policy in the EU with application on the climate change adaptation in Croatia.

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Tamara Shapiro Ledley, STEM education consultant, Earth and climate scientist, and Adjunct Professor at the Bentley University presented the En-ROADS simulator for modelling climate change sollutions, accessible at the address https://en-roads.climateinteractive.org/scenario.html?v=22.7.0 Susan Ask, Executive Director, animalia project, and PhD Student in Landscape Architecture at the University of Illinois suggested methods of including lessons or at least ideas about climate change in every classroom, while Kim Sheahan Sanford, Assistant Director of Education at the Spurlock Museum, had an interesting approach about artifacts and the way they can gather attention and stimulate learning in every subject.

The end of the 3 days workshop was coordinated again by Mr. Bruce Murray, Professor and Retired Director of the Illinois Program in Vienna, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign, who presented a student research project on this topic, followed by a proposal for a transatlantic virtual student collaboration template on the climate change mitigation assessment and a session for transatlantic group work on lesson planning.

As Erasmus+ teachers, we feel that each opportunity to meet virtually or face to face with other educators is beneficial for our professional development. So, when this event came with a transatlantic participation and had such a generous topic and so many valuable presenters, we decided to participate and to share with our colleagues the materials, the ideas, the methods and everything that we learnt. All the shared material is available in our project twinspace, at the address: https://twinspace.etwinning.net/97317/pages/page/1705708

Sources: https://ec.europa.eu/info/strategy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal_en https://mediaspace.illinois.edu/media/t/ Adriana Mariș, Lucia Boldea, Romanian team

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ERASMUS+ & eTwinning project 2019-1-HR01-KA229-060810

We’re on the web:

https://www.teslaerasmus.eu/ https://twinspace.etwinning.net/97317/home

Partners:

Tehnička škola, Požega, Croatia Bundeshandelsakademie und Bundeshandelsschule Linz, Austria Kanepi Gümnaasium, Estonia Liceul Teoretic ”Coriolan Brediceanu” Lugoj, Romania

The European Commission support for the production of this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the contents which reflects the views only of the authors, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

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