The following paragraphs contain my beliefs and views on
Environmental Education. They are based on all my learning over the past two
years and will mirror some of my reflections in this blog.
My Philosophy will be broken up into six sections dealing
with the purpose of Environmental Education, the importance of Environmental
Education, how I view my role as an Environmental Educator, what makes learning
effective in Environmental Education, how Environmental Education relates to
the bigger picture of environmental and sustainability issues and what it is
that I hope to achieve through my role as an Environmental Educator.
What is the purpose of Environmental Education?
I believe the main purpose of Environmental Education is to
connect individuals with their natural environment in order to incite a want to
protect nature. However, I acknowledge that connection is not sufficient enough
to lead individuals to take action for the environment. Within Environmental Education,
Education for Sustainability (EfS) should be complementary partners. Education
for Sustainability gives learners skills and mindsets in order to take action
for the environment.
I believe that although Environmental Education is not the
single answer to environmental and social equity issues, it is an important
component. In connecting individuals to the environment and giving them the
skills to protect the environment, Environmental Education has the ability to
assist in sustaining ecosystem services, prevent ecological disasters, prevent
the extinction of species, improve social equity, improve the way we treat
other species, enhance our wellbeing and allow future generations to experience
the wonder and the diversity of nature.
Although these may seem like impossible tasks I truly
believe that Environmental Education can make an important difference to our
current treatment of nature.
Why is Environmental Education Important?
Environmental Education is important for reconnecting individuals
with the natural world and creating an awareness of the reliance we have on the
environment. In modern society I do not believe we think often enough about
where our resources come from and whether or not we care if we lose our natural
environment. Yet if we want to continue to survive on this planet as a species
we can no longer bury our heads in the sand to the origins of that which we
consume.
Environmental Education is also important for the survival
of other species. Through the feeling of being connected with nature, learners
can empathise and feel compassion for other species in the environment. It is
through this ability that learners will wish to do no harm to other species and
therefore the environment in which they live.
With its complementary partner, EfS, Environmental Education
follows a pedagogy that enables learners to develop holistic and analytical
ways of thinking. In doing so learners question all stated truths, look beyond
the surface of an issue and recognise the connections within a problem. This
ability will be important in learners’ futures in which they will be subject to
insurmountable amounts of information, a growing populace, possible climate
change and an environment and economic system that will need to be equally sustainable.
Through reconnecting with the environment and gaining the skills and ways of
thinking through EfS, learners will have the necessary cognition and ability to
address these issues in a just manner.
How do I see my role?
I believe it is my role to help learners connect with nature
and develop the necessary cognition and skills in which they will be able to
make a positive difference to society, other species and the environment. I see
my role as following four criteria:
1. Allow for learners to spend time learning in
nature- This will give learners hands on experience in their natural
environment therefore giving them the opportunity to build a positive
connection with the environment.
2. Include knowledge about the environment-
Through my own experience learning about the processes that occur in the
environment I have become aware of how important it is to understand how
systems operate in nature. I feel that without an understanding of these
processes and interactions in the environment we may hold misconceptions about
nature and other species therefore resulting in inappropriate treatment. For
this reason, I see it as my role to allow learners to gain knowledge about the
processes within the environment in order to develop an understanding of the
natural world and its patterns. I believe this is best learnt within the
natural environment.
3. Follow the principles of EfS- The
principles of EfS give learners the ability to think critically and deeply
about issues. Therefore learners can become autonomous thinkers and not accept
all information that is given to them. They will want to pull apart all stated
truths in order to find reality. It will also give them the skills to deal with
the reality once they have found it and develop well informed decisions.
4. Lead by example- I cannot hold the
belief in the resilience of the environment and the wellbeing of other fellow
humans and other species without partaking in the action myself. If I lead by
example I will hold conviction in my beliefs. Although I do not agree in imparting
one’s beliefs onto another as this does not foster critical and deep thinking,
through leading by example I can show what I believe through my actions and
that others have the ability to do the same.
What makes learning effective
in Environmental Education?
I believe effective learning in
Environmental Education must possess the elements and their sub-categories that
I outlined in a framework of EfS earlier in this blog. I have included this in
my philosophy as I feel that it outlines my beliefs of what makes learning in
Environmental Education effective. The only difference I have made is in
regards to the sub-category of Programs
should (if applicable) provide learners with opportunities to interact with
their natural environment under the element of Learner needs. This has been changed to Programs provide learners with opportunities to interact and connect
with their natural environment. This sub-category is essential in
initiating a feeling of care and a want to protect their natural environment and
it should be the starting point of all learning.
Framework for Environmental
Education and EfS
Elements
and their sub-categories
Learner
needs
- Programs must acknowledge
and build upon learners’ previous knowledge.
- Programs should be adaptable
to learner needs eg. Disabilities, cultural.
- Programs provide learners
with opportunities to interact and connect with their natural environment.
- Programs should have clear
objectives that are known to the learner with feedback provided from
educator.
Cognition
- Programs develop and foster
Critical Thinking.
- Programs develop Reflective
Learners.
- Programs develop and foster
Systemic Thinking.
- Programs develop and foster
Envisioning Skills.
Collaboration
- Programs should be developed
with the goal of empowerment of individuals.
- Programs should have role of
educator as facilitator.
- Programs should further
build upon learner’s ability to work with others.
Values
Clarification
- Programs should develop
metacognitive skills.
- Programs should encourage
learners to question current dominant world views that create unsustainable
practices.
- Programs should encourage
compassion and empathy.
- Programs should encourage
visions of a better world and not treat them as rhetoric.
Evaluation
- Programs have mechanisms in
place that allow for flexibility.
- Programs should have on going
monitoring and reflection.
- Educators should be engaged
in reflective practice.
- Programs are developed with
ability to be evaluated and built upon from evaluations.
- Resources are appropriate
and effective.
- Evaluation should measure
the elements in this framework.
What is the bigger picture?
I often feel there is a perception that Environmental
Education is a non-essential subject. However, if we look beyond the education
realm and to the issues in the wider world, common sense would suggest that
Environmental Education is imperative. Through my learning in my Masters degree
and critical reflection, I have come to the understanding that we, as humans,
need to be treating our world better. I believe that our climate will change, I
believe that we are losing some of our most wonderful plant and animal species,
and I believe that due to current systems many individuals and other species do
not have their basic needs or rights met. Our current way of thinking puts
human needs above that of the environment and other species. As a result we
place ourselves above the rest of the natural world and view our wants and
needs to be far superior. Ironically, though, our basic needs are directly
connected to the ecosystems that provide us with all necessities and in our
race to consume all that we desire we put a great stress on these ecosystems.
In response to this mindset and consuming actions, species are declining,
global warming is a threatening issue, pollution is choking our oceans and
water ways and we have many individuals living in poverty and with hunger or
have lost traditions and customs that are integrated with the natural
environment.
I believe these issues do not make for a just or sustainable
world, as such we need ways of feeling, thinking and acting that will enable us
to protect the service that provides us with our basic needs, the environment.
Environmental Education follows a pedagogy that can provide these ways of
feeling, thinking and acting.
What do I hope to achieve?
My motives are based on the connection that I feel with the
environment and other species. I am very much concerned for the well being of
other species and for this reason I want to protect our environment. Through
Environmental Education I hope to create well informed, critical, reflective
and positive individuals. I want learners to question injustices and our
unsustainable way of living. I want them to possess the skills that will enable
them to interact positively with their world and in doing so take actions that
will heighten the well being of their environment, other species and other
individuals. We need to start recognising that we share this planet and with
that comes a responsibility to look after and care for it.
