A new short film co-produced and edited by Ecodeo and Bioneers offers a view of what it’s like to bring biomimicry into the classroom — from the perspective of the educators themselves.
Biomimicry is a connection point between parents and their children and between educators and their students. Rather than merely dispensing curriculum, engaging with nature and science-based learning in this way allows for meaningful experiences and engagement between young people and adults on a personal, relatable level. Learning from nature captures young people’s imagination while contextualizing why the world around us is so important. When educators introduce biomimicry thinking into their programs, they not only enhance 21st century skills for youth, they give them an outlet for connecting to nature and encouraging them to develop innovative ideas for solving local challenges that affect their communities — and their future.
“Kids love learning about animals and plants, and they love going outside. Biomimicry encourages doing both! Teachers have a reason to take students outside to do lessons exploring the functions of the organisms living outside their door,” said Laura Arndt, Founding Director, Global GreenSTEM. “This experience becomes a foundation for students to design a nature-inspired solution. It’s a win-win all the way around.”
In this new short film, get a sneak peek into a professional development training for educators hosted by the Biomimicry Institute, Bioneers, and Ten Strands in December 2019. Hear from participants and instructors and see how biomimicry offers an effective, engaging, and inspiring framework for STEAM education while empowering the next generation of problem-solvers to think differently about nature, engineering, and a sustainable future.
Curious about what teaching biomimicry could look like for your community or how you can bring the curriculum into your classroom or at home? Visit biomimicry.org/education to learn more.
And stay tuned for our 2020 Youth Design Challenge winners announcement to come tomorrow! For the third year in a row, the Biomimicry Institute has been working with educators and coaches to bring the process of nature-inspired design into their classrooms and after-school programs. From an evaporative cooling system inspired by the Texas Horned Lizard to protecting coral reefs with a solution inspired by tree canopies and Orb Weaver Spiders, this year’s Youth Design Challenge (YDC) winners are worthy of celebration for their curiosity, ingenuity, and creative problem-solving.
