Educational environmental education involves a variety of disciplines. It seeks to increase an individual’s understanding of nature, creates vital capacities to address environmental challenges, and cultivates stewardship and responsibilities. The field is vast, encompassing several disciplines that are necessary for a thorough understanding of the environment. Environmental education is an effort to educate the general public about issues affecting the environment and work towards preventing problems before they occur. Some of the most important issues facing our planet are:
Lesson plans
There are several different types of environmental lesson plans available for use in schools. Teachers can customize these plans to meet the needs of students of different ages. Environmental education is often used to promote awareness of pollution and its impact on our environment. In fact, it is the most common cause of pollution in the world. Lesson plans for educational environmental issues may include a variety of environmental topics, including climate change, pollution caused by fossil fuels, water pollution, and air pollution.
One lesson plan, developed by the Canadian Forestry Association, explores the role of protected areas in maintaining biodiversity. Students will investigate the economic and social effects of protected areas. The lesson plan includes an opportunity to conduct an action project, such as cleaning up litter on local waterways. Other environmental lesson plans include the Yellow Fish Road, which focuses on the consequences of pollution entering storm drains. Regardless of which lesson plan you choose, be sure to incorporate a couple of hands-on activities.
Curriculum
A core curriculum is a set of learning goals for a particular course. These goals describe the content and methods of teaching. Curriculum is usually grouped into units and modules. Each unit focuses on a particular skill or topic. A typical curriculum includes units of communications, math, information technology, and social skills. Specific teaching is also provided for each unit. In addition to the goals and objectives, curriculum also includes instructional plans, teaching schedules, and a capstone project.
Another trend in curriculum is the increasing importance of global citizenship. As technology has made us more interconnected than ever, students must learn how to navigate their roles in a global society. This includes studying the effects of global issues on people and their environment. They need to develop critical thinking skills to understand their own place in the world. Curriculum should emphasize this. Learning is a continuous process that continues throughout life, so fostering global citizenship in our students is critical.
Assessment
To evaluate educational environments, the Postgraduate Hospital Educational Environment Measure (PHEEM) was developed. Compared to other methods, this survey has high reliability and practicality. It includes 40 questions and can measure three aspects: role autonomy, teaching, and social support. Scores are given in descending order, with the highest being the best and lowest being the worst. Several factors affect a physician’s opinion of his or her educational environment.
The ECERS-R scales are based on the principle of expert observation. The 43 indicators are rated from one to seven, according to specific observable environmental conditions. The expert determines a point value from one to seven for each indicator. The expert then sums the average scores of each scale to give a final score for the educational environment. The scale is designed to measure educational environment in a specific school. The ECERS-R scales can be used to measure a variety of learning environments.
Careers in environmental education
Many students who are interested in careers in environmental education will find that the field offers a diverse range of options. Environmental education programs are typically conducted as inquiry-based learning experiences that integrate concepts from environmental science with real-world applications. Students perform work in classrooms, outdoor settings, and visitor centers. Some programs even use floating classrooms on research vessels. Environmental education graduates can also find employment in state and federal agencies. To learn more about a career in environmental education, read on for more information.
Environmental education careers range from teaching primary school children to leading recreation programs. Some environmental educators work with groups of the public, bringing attention to environmental issues. Others are employed by nature reserves, conducting outdoor walks, or giving lectures. Still others work in a classroom setting, combining their love for nature with a passion for environmental education. In either case, an environmental education career is a rewarding one! The field of environmental education offers a variety of rewarding and challenging opportunities.