IPF participated to the GIFT workshop in Vienna

70 teacher formators and teachers from all over Europe gathered in Vienna between the the 3rd and the 5th of April for the 4th edition of the GIFT workshop (Geophysical Information For Teachers). This year's topic was the Polar Regions. This had been decided in order to prepare the teachers for the International Polar Year which will take place between 2007 and 2008.

During two days and a half, the participants of the workshop had the opportunity to meet and listen to the presentation of specialists on the subject: physicians, chemists, glaciologists or explorer. Besides, educational tools and educational projects on the subject were also presented to them. It is in this context that the IPF had been invited to the congress.

The IPF presented the cd-rom of interactive animations on Polar Regions and Climate Change. There were many positive returns from the teachers, who were extremely pleased to discover a tool which was transdisciplinary and already translated in six different languages. Some language teachers even thought of using the cd-rom as a tool for language learning!

During the GIFT, several teachers also presented their own work about Polar Regions and the activities that they had been doing with their classes on the subject. Two teachers had even gone themselves to polar regions on scientific expeditions, and shared their experiences with all the participants to the workshop.

Finally, the topic of next year's GIFT workshop was presented: it will be "the megacities".

For more information visit the GIFT workshop 2006 website.