An environmental educational incubator
An incubator for environmental educational initiatives
The Institute for Democratic Education and the Kibbutzim College of Education offers a unique programme: "The Incubator for Environmental Educational Initiatives ". The incubator operates in the framework of the School of Education in the high school track, with specialisations in biology and chemistry - plus an environmental emphasis and emphasis on democratic education.
The central goals of the programme are the following:
- Training education entrepreneurs to design and perform innovative environmental ventures
- Training teachers of environmental science in high-schools
- Innovation and developing ideas existing in education in Israel.
"The environmental situation in Israel is a source of great concern and requires attention and efforts. Our lives depend on natural systems that are dwindling, and we are witnessing communities that are losing their power and influence. We believe in the need to act for a sustainable society: a society that develops without injuring natural infrastructure is vital for existence, a society based on cultural and spiritual values that are sustainable and nurture us in the present, and enable the next generations to thrive. We believe in the ability of teachers and students to interact in that direction, by means of education that fosters concern, responsibility and active citizenship for the sake of a better world. We see the strengthening of environmental education as a key to generating and the changes in values, way of life, and policy that we need in order to make society sustainable".
Education and Environment, the website of the Shell Centre
Students seeking admission to the incubator program should be -
- interested and involved in environmental educational issues;
- have an affinity for nature and the environment;
- experienced in leading environmental, educational or social processes;
- with an integrated grade of 500 and above. The grade is determined by the average in matriculation exams (bagrut) and the psychometric exam (a grade of 500 weighted in the matriculation of 85, and psychometric exam - 500);
- possessing vision and initiative
- independent learning skills
The incubator programme grants its graduates three diplomas:
- A BA degree in education (B.Ed.)
- A teaching certificate for high schools, in biology or chemistry
- A certificate of specialisation in democratic education
Tuition fees
The same fees charged by the Kibbutzim College of Education, plus NIS 2000 per year.
There are many options for generous grants - conditional and non-conditional
Structure of studies
Studies are grounded on a combination of academic studies and experiential studies outside the college.
The programme includes the following components, with equal weight to each of them:
- A general scientific foundation in the Life Sciences and the Natural Sciences
- Special emphasis on the environmental area
- Educational contents in a socio-democratic-environmental perspective
- Contents in the sphere of science teaching, and practical teaching experience.
Studies are held at the college two days a week, and include:
- A workshop + personal incubator - to produce an environmental-educational venture.
- Specialised classes in biology and chemistry - underscoring ecological and environmental issues.
- Workshops and classes for science teaching + teaching experience
- Classes and workshops on democratic-environmental education
- Organising the group as a democratic learning community, responsible for the environment
- General classes in education and basic studies
Experiential work in the field during the rest of the week -
- All stages of a personal incubator - searching, enhancing, and producing (at least half a day per week).
- Experiential teaching in democratic and state schools (half a day - mornings and early afternoon)
- Independent learning as the results of credit-intensive specialisation classes
- Field-trips and study camps
- Activities and work with environmental and/or educational organizations according to the students' spheres of interest (at least half a day per week).
This is a four-year program - if students comply with their obligations in full. Programme graduates - if found suitable and complying with the program's requirements - can obtain work in different aspects of democratic and environmental, as well as teaching in democratic or state schools.
Students in the programme will:
- gain experience in developing and producing educational-environmental ventures that match their personal aspirations and needs in the field;
- specialise in a chosen field of expertise - biology or chemistry, with an environmental emphasis;
- develop as independent learners;
- gain experience in professional teaching of science with an environmental emphasis;
- shape their personal environmental worldview
- acquire skills in the fields of managing and entrepreneuring;
- practice skills in democratic education work: mentoring, dialogic ability, advice on independent learning, applying a democratic educational system.