Experimental Barcelona: Experiential Travel for Education, Culture and Wellbeing

Description

The course takes a contemporary approach to travel and the discovery of a new environment in a sustainable way, introducing participants to Experiential Travel, as well as Eco and Tourism Psychology through experiencing the city of Barcelona in a dynamic, experimental way. 

Participants will discover its cultural heritage and its contemporary way of living, while connecting with local life through hands-on activities inspired by experiential learning practices (such as field trips, creative practical activities, outdoor sessions, case studies, wellbeing practices, etc.), that they can reuse with their students while teaching their subject, planning a trip or just to teach about their own cultural heritage.

By bringing our attention, memory, perception, movement, and feelings to key aspects of the city, participants will learn how unusual experiences of an environment can be a great tool to maintain their students’ attention and to stimulate their motivation and interest in learning. 

In fact, experiential travel supports personal development, increases overall well-being, and allows a deeper cultural understanding, since it is a first-hand experience where the participant is the main actor while travelling.

At the end of the course, teachers will have experiences and learned a set of techniques and activities they can reuse to work with their students on different subjects while presenting, teaching about, or visiting new places.

By the end of the course, participants will return to their schools with renewed energy and inspiration, a stronger appreciation for cultural heritage, and practical ideas to help students engage more deeply with culture and the world around them.

Concept by Marta Mandolini

Learning outcomes

The course will help the participants to:  

• Discover the benefits of experiential travel for students and teachers from a cultural and holistic/well-being perspective;
• Enjoy a deep cultural immersion, learning about Spanish and Catalan Cultural Heritage but also Barcelona’s contemporary lifestyle through experiential learning activities;
• Get more practical ideas for the classroom inspired by experiential learning activities in and out of the classroom, understanding how experiential travel can be a strong resource to integrate with the subjects you teach;
• Design an appropriate travel program/lessons to facilitate students’ attention, memory, perception, movement, and feelings towards new experiences, both abroad and at home.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools;
• Introduction to Tourism Psychology.

Day 2 – Introduction to sustainable tourism and experiential travel

• Theoretical introduction on Psychogeography and Sustainable Tourism and their relevance for students’ growth;
•  Outdoor activity – Discovering cultural heritage in the city center (Gothic Quarter) through “Experimental Travel” activities;
• Let’s connect with locals and have a “Tapas challenge” picnic experience in the Ciutadella Park.

Day 3 – Practicing ecopsychology in Barcelona’s gardens

• Nature connectedness while touring a town: learn how the activation of our senses can lead to a more meaningful environmental experience;
• Creative activities in the Barcelona University Garden;
• Explore the Horta Labyrinth garden with your senses.

Day 4 – Learning by doing – Catan art and architecture

• Let’s paint like Picasso, Miró, and Dalí! Engage with the artists’ main artworks and create your own unique works! No previous art skill is required;
• Introduction to the Modernism movement in Barcelona, the Catalan form of Art Nouveau. The Gaudí case.;
• Outdoor activity: Hunting modernist features in the Quadrat d’Or (golden square area) in the Eixample district and create your own (wooden) tile.

Day 5 – Experiential travel for schools 

• Warming up Cultural Heritage Final Quiz: refining the main Catalan and Spanish traditions (dances, festivities, rituals, language expressions…);
• Experiential travel for schools: final reflections on how to incorporate it in your school;
• Touring your own town: Experiential Travel in your place of origin.  Create a project for your school.

Day 6 – Course closure

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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