Abstract:

The social and cultural shift towards more globalized environments, where entrepreneurship and autonomy determine the future of work, highlights the need to adapt educational processes to shape competent citizens in these new contexts. Learning processes have given way to complex skills such as information management, teamwork, or technology use. The Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFPD) (Spain) encompasses them within the concept of "Key Competencies". Working on these competencies requires alternative didactic methodologies such as Service-Learning, which provides the opportunity to place students at the centre of the teaching-learning process while also providing a service to the community. Carrying it out through short film tied to the major environmental issues of the 21st century allows students to relate concepts by connecting them to real-world practice and developing skills such as creativity and reflection.

The objectives of this study were as follows:
(1) to enhance the comprehension of the students about the selected environmental issues;
(2) to bolster the requisite competencies for conducting research;
(3) to cultivate the capability to produce a short film based on meticulously crafted scripts stemming from research; and
(4) to amplify societal environmental consciousness through the dissemination of the resulting short films.

The present study was conducted at a public secondary school in Castilla y León, Spain, in collaboration with educators from the universities of León and Valladolid. The student cohort comprised fourth-year students enrolled in the ESO curriculum (4th course), with a commitment of four hours per week throughout the entire second trimester. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in scientific knowledge regarding the addressed topics, marked by heightened complexity and precision. Additionally, students acquired extensive ICT skills and fortified their research capacity, encompassing information retrieval and processing. This endeavour, characterized by the pursuit of accurate and rigorous information, serves as a cornerstone for their future research activities, regardless of the level or field of study they choose to pursue thereafter.

Keywords:

Environmental education, ICT, service learning, short-film creation.