Course Schedule

Core Activities

Day 1: Introduction, Awareness and STPM
Begin with a warm welcome, registration, and interactive icebreakers to get to know fellow participants and course leaders. Explore the STPM concept, its mission and methodology, and gain an overview of the week ahead. Discover Icelandic culture through “The Icelandic Corner,” share expectations, and connect further during an optional social event. 

Day 2: Well-being, Awareness and Action Research
Begin the day by connecting with fellow participants through Smart Teachers Play More (STPM) movement-based activities and icebreakers. Explore the foundations of the STPM methodology, with a focus on well-being and positive psychology.
Participants will be introduced to Icelandic society and education, including an overview of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the areas Iceland particularly focuses on. Through reflection and discussion, explore how awareness and everyday choices contribute to well-being and sustainability starting with yourself.
The day continues with an introduction to Action Research and how it is used within Icelandic schools to support development and improve teaching and learning. Using simple models and guided prompts, participants begin to frame their action research focus, identifying a small intervention to develop throughout the course.

Day 3: Eco-School Visit and Geothermal Energy in Practice
Field trip to an Icelandic Green Flag eco-school located in a geothermal hot spring area. Participants experience a typical school day and gain insight into how sustainability and environmental awareness are embedded in everyday learning. The school shares how they select, implement, and follow through on sustainable goals, providing practical examples of eco-school practices in action.
The day continues with a visit to a geothermal power plant, where participants take part in a guided tour and observe how renewable energy is produced and used in Iceland. They will also visit the on-site educational space and see the materials and equipment used when Icelandic school children come to learn about geothermal energy as part of their education.

Day 4: School Visit – Experiencing Icelandic Education
Visit one of Reykjavík’s newest schools, integrating kindergarten, primary, and secondary education. Discover how practical and academic subjects are equally valued, inclusion is a priority, and well-being is integrated into the curriculum. Witness how outdoor activities rooted in Icelandic heritage build resilience. Explore how democracy and sustainability thinking shape the school community in a positive way.

Day 5: STPM, Outdoor Learning and Sustainability in Practice
Interactive workshops focusing on the STPM methodology, movement-based learning, and eco-focused activities. Explore outdoor education and experience how learning in all weather conditions supports awareness, resilience, and well-being.

Day 6: Action Research Sharing and Eco Stations
Participants finalise and share their small, focused action research using a structured template. Through peer exchange and discussion, they reflect on their ideas and gain inspiration from others.
The day continues with interactive and movement-based eco stations, offering practical and engaging activities that can be adapted for the classroom. These sessions reinforce key themes of sustainability, awareness, and active learning.

Day 7: Icelandic Thermal Wellness, Geothermal Sustainability and Reflective Practice
Participants begin with a short seminar on Icelandic thermal bathing traditions, exploring the role of geothermal energy, sustainability, wellbeing, equality, and screen-free social connection in Icelandic culture. The day continues with a guided visit to a local thermal swimming pool and hot tubs, where participants experience an important aspect of Icelandic daily life: gathering together in warm geothermal waters despite the cold outdoor climate, engaging in open conversation where every voice is valued, and learning about local customs of hygiene, trust, and shared social spaces, including the longstanding tradition of showering thoroughly without swimwear before entering the pools. Structured reflection and mindfulness activities encourage participants to connect these experiences to the course themes and their own personal and professional development.