Ecological Education

ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION

Ecological Education is about re-thinking and re-designing curricular and institutional reform in the spirit of integral ecology in order to foster ecological awareness and transformative action. Actions could include ensuring equitable access to education for all and promoting human rights, fostering Laudato Si’ themes within the community, encouraging ecological leadership (students, teachers), and ecological restoration activities. [ https://laudatosiactionplatform.org/laudato-si-goals/ ]

————————

Why apply ecology to schools?

Ecology is the most resilient and stable system know to us. Ecosystems are self-replicating, self-propagating, and self-maintaining. Natural systems increase in complexity and resiliency over time and use resources effectively by cycling them through tens of thousands of interactions. As it turns out, the web of life is a net held together by connections. It I may draw a comparison, an ecological network is not unlike neural connections in the brain or – perhaps more abstractly – links within the curriculum, or social networks of our schools and communities.

Ecological Education: What if Schools Were Ecosystems?
December 10, 2012 \ by Dustin Bajer
[ https://www.dustinbajer.com/ecological-education/ ]

————
What is Environmental Education?

Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions.

The components of environmental education are:

• Awareness and sensitivity to the environment and environmental challenges
• Knowledge and understanding of the environment and environmental challenges
• Attitudes of concern for the environment and motivation to improve or maintain environmental quality
• Skills to identify and help resolve environmental challenges
• Participation in activities that lead to the resolution of environmental challenges

Environmental education does not advocate a particular viewpoint or course of action. Rather, environmental education teaches individuals how to weigh various sides of an issue through critical thinking and it enhances their own problem-solving and decision-making skills.

The National Environmental Education Act of 1990 requires EPA to provide national leadership to increase environmental literacy. EPA established the Office of Environmental Education to implement this program. [ https://www.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education ]

———

Center for Ecoliteracy

Lessons, articles, and principles to further ecological teaching and learning

UNDERSTANDING FOOD AND CLIMATE CHANGE: AN INTERACTIVE GUIDE

Understanding Food and Climate Change: An Interactive Guide uses video, photography, text, and interactive experiences to help educators, students, and advocates learn how food and climate systems interact and how personal choices can make a difference. Ideal for grades 6–12 and general audiences, with connections to Next Generation Science Standards and the National Curriculum Standards for Social Studies themes, the guide offers activities for student research and resources for further investigation. The guide is also designed to support self-guided and independent study, and is a boon for advocates seeking hopeful strategies and creative responses.
Web version: [ https://vimeo.com/246862575 ]
Available as a free iBook for Mac and iPad users. Get it on Ibooks [ https://www.ecoliteracy.org/download/understanding-food-and-climate-change-interactive-guide ]