Turning Participation into Power through PBL and Service
24 March 2026
Education becomes truly meaningful when it grows out of real places, real lives, and real community needs. The online conference “Turning Participation into Power through Place-Based Learning and Service Learning” brings together educators, teachers, and changemakers who believe schools can play an active role in strengthening their communities.
Designed as a space for inspiration, connection, and exchange, this 4-hour event explores how Place-Based Education and Service Learning can reshape teaching, deepen student engagement, and turn participation into meaningful action. The conference will take place on April 28, from 13:00 to 17:00 CET (14:00–18:00 Romanian time), online via Zoom, and will be held in English.
Why join us?
Because learning becomes powerful when it moves beyond classroom walls. Place-based education invites students to learn through their community’s stories, people, places, environment, culture, and real challenges.
Investing in place means investing in deeper learning and stronger communities.
Who Is This Conference For?
This event is designed for a wide spectrum of professionals who care about meaningful education, including:
- Primary and secondary school teachers
- Subject-specific middle and high school educators
- School leaders and district administrators
- University students and teacher educators
- Non-formal and community educators
- Community organizations and partners
- Policy makers and educational decision-makers
Whether you are new to place-based education or already leading innovative practice, you will find inspirational and learning pathways to match your experience and interests.
We see this conference as the starting point — an initial catalyst for reflection and action. It introduces the possibilities of PBL and Service Learning, but meaningful change requires continued exploration, collaboration, and commitment from each participant afterwards.
What topics are we going to tackle?
This conference builds directly on the 5 European organizations’ experience during the Community as a classroom Erasmus+ project and focuses on:
- Understand 6 key principles relevant for impactful PBL activities:
- Participation
- Work with/ for/ in the place
- Community partnership
- Sustainability
- Interdisciplinarity
- Collaborative planning and collegial support
- Understand the “Ladder of PBL” – how to move from project activity to real community impact, Service-Learning projects
- Learn how collegial support helps teachers reach higher levels of PBL.
- Gain practical inspiration from international examples.
- Develop actionable recommendations for schools.
The conference connects theory, project evidence, teacher voices, and practical examples for inspiration.
Deadline for registration: April 27th, 2026, 09:00 CET
Conference agenda
- 13:00–13:15 – Welcome & Opening of the conference
- 13:15–13:35 – European Perspectives on Place-Based Learning (PBL)
- 13:35–14:05 – The Power of Service Learning – Speaker: Andreea Tabun (RO)
- 14:05–14:40 – The Role of Collegial Support in Schools – Speaker: Hana Košťálová (CZ)
- 14:40–15:15 – International Perspectives: PBL in Practice
- Romania: Rodica Arapu – Place-Based Learning for Students with Special Educational Needs
- Czechia: Eva Budínská – Creating Space for Collegial Planning and Collaborative Teaching
- Slovakia: Jaroslava Žáková – Community-Based Projects
- Finland: Johanna Tanskanen – Youth Engagement in Mehtimäki Area Development
- Poland: Anna Foltyn-Simka – Place-Based Chemistry in Practice
- 15:15 – 15:30 – Break
- 15:30–16:30 – Parallel workshops
How to Start with PBL
What? A workshop focused on the first steps in Place-Based Learning. Through a clear structure, concrete classroom examples, and practical activities, participants will learn to begin teaching in local contexts using simple yet effective methods and gradually build confidence in PBL. The workshop also provides materials and activities that can be readily used in the classroom.
Who? Environmental Education Centre SEVER, Czechia
From PBL to Service Learning: The Ladder Model and principles of SL projects
What? This workshop explores how Place-Based Learning (PBL) projects can evolve into Service Learning initiatives that have a real impact on the community. Participants will discover how to move from classroom-based activities to projects that address genuine community needs and foster meaningful change. Starting with the Ladder of the PBL methodology, the workshop will provide a practical framework for understanding the stages of developing a Service Learning project, as well as its core principles, including community relevance, active student involvement, reflection, and collaboration.
Who? Andreea Tabun, Program Manager, New Horizons Foundation, Romania
How learning about a place helps us understand global issues: The case of biodiversity
What? The workshop, led by a biologist, will focus on how to teach about a place through the lens of biodiversity. By gaining a deep understanding of the local environment and its challenges, participants will learn to connect local knowledge to broader global issues. During the sessions, the facilitator will demonstrate practical fieldwork methods that not only enhance understanding of the local environment but also foster a sense of responsibility for the place where we live.
Who? Prof. Piotr Skubała – University of Silesia)- Poland
Outdoor education - don't sit in the classroom, teach outside
What? What are the benefits of working outdoors, and how can you start it? How to teach at the place and enjoy it.
Who? Jana Menkynová and Monika Chrenková, DAPHNÉ, Slovakia
Multidisciplinary learning weeks and PBL
What? The ENO Schoolnet workshop introduces participants to the Finnish concept of Multidisciplinary Learning Modules (MOK weeks). It explores how multidisciplinary learning, place-based learning, and environmental education can be integrated into them. This interactive session aims to provide a practical, hands-on approach to designing learning experiences that connect curriculum goals with meaningful engagement in local environments. Examples from Finnish schools will be presented.
Who? Maire Turunen & Ulla Pötsönen – ENO Schoolnet, and Satu Huttunen – principal of Kylmäojan koulu, Kontiolahti, Finland
- 16:30 -17:00 – Closing and evaluation
For any inquiries or further information, please feel free to contact us at conference@noi-orizonturi.ro. We’re here to assist you!
Community as a Classroom is a project funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme, under Action KA220-SCH – Cooperation Partnerships in School Education, Grant Agreement No. 2023-1-CZ01-KA220-SCH-000165069.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
