Chapter 8: Education 8 Education C H A P T E R

Learning Outcomes Understand how education for sustainable living requires a different focus from traditional education. Explain the different levels of literacy to think sustainably. Explain how media literacy leads to understanding how business as usual promotes only a consumer vision. (continued)

Learning Outcomes (continued) Describe any issue from multiple viewpoints. Understand how various ways of framing issues can lead to polarized worldviews. Understand the importance of incorporating natural environments into education. Recognize various myths that create barriers for transforming education toward sustainability.

Education in the 21 st Century Education must focus on thinking systemically. Education must focus on sustainability. Education must be interdisciplinary and incorporate the quad stack model. Where and how people learn is as important as what they learn. (continued)

Education in the 21 st Century (continued) Scientific literacy –Science is a process where data is validated over time to form conclusions and adjusted as new data are collected –All sciences help inform us how humans have an impact on natural environments

Educational Taxonomy Remembering Understanding Applying Analyzing Evaluating Creating (continued)

Educational Taxonomy (continued)

Science Literacy Understand the process of science. Understand the relevance and how to find peer-reviewed scientific research. Understand the vocabulary of science. Recognize that uncertainty is part of science.

Environmental Literacy Most modern issues involve problems with the environment. –Need to understand the relative health of environmental systems and use appropriate action to maintain, restore, and improve the health of those systems. –Working knowledge of ecological systems is vital. –Need to recognize credible science and have a big- picture understanding. (continued)

Environmental Literacy (continued) Environmental literacy starts with developing an awareness of and sensitivity for the natural world. (continued)

Environmental Literacy (continued) Steps toward full environmental literacy –Nominal environmental literacy –Functional environmental literacy –Operational environmental literacy

Ecological Literacy Concerns the principles of organization of ecosystems and their application in understanding how to build a sustainable society –Understand the complexities and interdependency of all life forms and their reliance on abiotic factors. –Understand the consequences of consumer lifestyle. Blackout of information

Media Literacy “An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic. Self-government is not possible unless the citizens are educated sufficiently to enable them to exercise oversight. It is therefore imperative that the nation see to it that a suitable education be provided for all its citizens.” – Thomas Jefferson How does current media use provide the suitable education that Jefferson refers to?

Consequences of Scientific and Ecological Illiteracy People don’t rationalize their perspectives. Instead of rational discourse, anger dominates discussion. People discount the importance of civic engagement as well as personal and public responsibility.

Communicating Effectively Communication is crucial in helping others understand why living sustainably is important. –Understand the power words can have. –Being a good communicator is also being a good listener. (continued)

Communicating Effectively (continued) Characteristics of a good listener –Paying attention –Reacting appropriately –Giving feedback

Linguistic Framing People frame their language through their worldviews. Two basic frames that currently translate to how people should live in society: –Strict father model –Nurturant parent model How do you think these two frames represent people’s thinking of how to live in society?

Understanding All Sides of the Issue Need to know the situation and what the actual problems are. Need to understand the different values and beliefs held by all stakeholders involved. –Evaluate a local environmental issue and determine what different values and beliefs might exist among all the various stakeholders involved. (You will need to identify the possible stakeholders.)

Dissecting Issues Need to find the core argument. Four main characteristics in dialogue: –Biased perspectives emphasize a specific viewpoint. –The issue is simplified. –The issue gets personalized. –The issue gets sensationalized or glamorized.

Value Descriptors Aesthetic Cultural/community Ecological Economic Educational Egocentric Legal Recreational Spiritual/religious Social

Reforming Education Nature needs to be a central part of our thinking and education. Interdisciplinary approach. Concepts such as common decency, prudence, mindful thinking, loss of the cultural commons, and ecological wisdom need to be taught.

Nature-Deficit Disorder When children spend the majority of their time indoors –Detached from ecosystems and nature’s services –Fail to see connections between abiotic and biotic components –Unlikely to develop systemic thinking skills (continued)

Nature-Deficit Disorder (continued) No Child Left Inside –Fund the training of teachers for outdoor learning –Fund each state that completes an environmental literacy plan to ensure high school graduates are environmentally literate –Award grants at all levels to build the capacity to expand environmental literacy

Incorporating Nature Into the Learning Environment (continued)

Incorporating Nature Into the Learning Environment (continued) Learning experiences in nature –Increased test scores –Increased physical agility and strength –Increased concentration –Decreased conflicts –Decreased absences due to illness

Challenge Education

Myths of Education Ignorance is a solvable problem. Knowledge and technology will solve all problems. Increased knowledge increases goodness. We can fix what we have dismantled. (continued)

Myths of Education (continued) Education gives you upward mobility and success. Western culture is the pinnacle of human achievement.

Esperanza Would you embrace an education like that of 2090? Why or why not? Does an education that embraces sustainability, promotes critical thinking as opposed to rote memorization, and outdoor learning make you uncomfortable? Why or why not? What barriers do you think are preventing society from reaching education practices in Espe’s time?