MIT Open Learning announces Day of Climate and call for proposals
MIT community is invited to submit ideas for K-12 educational materials about climate change and sustainability.
By Katherine Ouellette
Scientists, world leaders, and learners agree that addressing climate change is urgent. That’s why MIT Open Learning launched today the Day of Climate, an effort that aims to equip K-12-aged learners and their educators with short format, hands-on educational materials and tools to better understand what climate change is, its impact, and possible solutions. The curriculum activities seek to empower young learners to directly explore and design solutions that address climate and sustainability challenges. Open Learning is seeking proposals from the MIT community (including faculty, researchers, students, and staff) for designs of high-quality, accessible, and empowering educational materials.
Following MIT President Sally Kornbluth’s call to action to combat climate change, Day of Climate aligns with the Institute’s mission of sharing knowledge to collaborate on global challenges like climate solutions. The Day of Climate aims to equip learners of elementary, middle, and high school ages with innovative climate curriculum activities and accompanying toolkits to support them in active inquiry, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and advocacy for climate and sustainability action in their communities. The proposals selected for funding will be shared publicly under a Creative Commons license.
“We are extremely excited about the opportunity to bring together the wider community at MIT to launch and engage learners and educators through Day of Climate,” says Claudia Urrea, senior director for pK-12 at MIT Open Learning and principal investigator for Day of Climate, noting that proposals should be rooted in the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. “Given the commitment to address the climate crisis, we are inviting everyone across campus to share concrete learning activities that represent their latest research on climate education and justice, tools, sustainable materials, simulations, and more.”
Following the MIT Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education (RAISE) initiative’s model for Day of AI, Day of Climate can be taught by educators, both in school and outside of school, all year round. There will also be an annual Day of Climate celebration event beginning in spring 2025 where learners and educators can share their activities with the world. The curriculum activities will build on MIT’s existing climate education resources, including Day of AI climate lessons and activities, the Climate Action Through Education program, the Environmental Solutions Initiative’s Climate Portal, and the free OpenCourseWare collection on environment and sustainability.
In addition to Urrea, this initiative is spearheaded by MIT faculty lead Christopher R. Knittel, director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, director of Climate Action Through Education, associate dean of climate and energy at MIT Sloan, and George P. Shultz Professor of Energy Economics; and Cynthia Breazeal, dean for digital learning at MIT Open Learning, director of RAISE, and professor of media arts and sciences. Open Learning will collaborate with educators at MIT and other institutions around the globe.
The deadline to submit proposals is September 15, 2024 at 5 p.m. EDT.
Learn more about the call for proposals and the submission guidelines.
