How to use the reflections questions
These questions can be used to stimulate the flow of ideas and discussion about climate change and transport. Pick out one or several questions you feel are interesting and at an appropriate level for your pupils. Use them in group discussions, debates, as a basis for a project or investigation, or when meeting with local people and decision-makers!
Why not create your own questions for reflection? Do you have a question for reflection that worked well? Maybe others would be interested to hear about it! This could be included in your project report that we encourage you to upload.
Questions about participation and partnership
- How do you feel being part of an international project with other schools?
- What was it like to discuss issues with local people, politicians or decision-makers?
- Were the people you worked with locally interested in your findings?
Questions about climate and transport
- Why is emission of greenhouse gasses from transportation a problem? Do you have any suggestions about how greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced?
- What bodies or organisations are in a position to take actions that can reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
- Who is responsible for the systems of transport where you live?
Questions about understanding, analysing and comparing the results
- How does your school compare with the average for your country and internationally? What could be reasons why your school is above or below the average?
- Why do you travel to school using the transportation means that you do?
- How does the distance from school effect your emissions?
- How did your grandparents travel to school? How do you think your grandchildren will travel to school?
- Which countries emit a high or low amount of CO2 per student kilometer travelled? What could be reasons for these differences?
- How accurate do you think the figures for your CO2 emissions are? What are sources of error?
Questions about finding solutions
- Are there other ways the transportation of school pupils could be organised in your community? Would safety be an issue?
- Is there a culture for bike-riding and sharing rides where you live? Why or why not, do you think?
- What alternative sources of fuel or other means of transport are available, that would reduce emissions?
- Does your municipality have a climate policy or a transport policy? If it has one, is it a good one that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the future?
- What could the public services in your local community do to reduce transportation emissions?
- What could citizens in your community do to reduce transportation emissions?
- What could politicians in your community do to reduce transportation emissions?
- What could businesses in your community do to reduce transportation emissions?
Questions for further exploration
- How can citizens get involved to make the transportation system in your community more sustainable? What democratic procedures would be involved to make that happen?
- How could communities be organised differently, to reduce the distance we need to travel in our daily lives?
- How much of your CO2 emissions comes from transportation? (You will need to look for additional information to answer this!)
- How could CO2 emissions from other activities besides transportation be reduced?
Reflection questions for teachers
The following questions are examples of topics that teachers could discuss together, either before, during or after the project.
Questions about your experience with the CO2nnect
- How is this way of working different than ”traditional” teaching methods, like lessons learning and class instruction?
- How does the approach of CO2nnect affect what the pupils learn and their motivation? Consider, for example, the effect of using ICT and the database, working with a real issue, contact with scientists, collaboration with other schools or meeting with local people.
- Did you have any particular problem carrying out the CO2nnect? How could you solve them next time you try a project like this?
Questions about education for sustainable development at your school
- What does ”education for sustainable development” mean to you?
- Would your school be interested in doing more education for sustainable development?
- How can schools contribute to a more sustainable society?
- How could your school continue to work together with local people and decisionmakers on sustainability issues?
- How can teachers - and the school as a whole - be good role models when it comes to sustainable development?