Environmental adult education is recognized as a "hybrid outgrowth of the environmental movement and adult education, combining an ecological orientation with a learning paradigm to provide a vigorous educational approach to environmental concerns."[1]
In laymen's terms, environmental adult education refers to efforts in teaching environmental issues and how individuals and businesses can manage or change their lifestyles and their ecosystems in order to achieve sustainable existence. The overarching goal of this field of study is to educate global citizens in order for them to gain sustainable lives within their respective societies. The content could also include ecological justice, integrating social concerns such as poverty, race, gender, and sexual orientation, among others.[2] This relationship is demonstrated in the impact of the excesses of global capitalism and its insatiable need for resources on people such as the polarization of power and wealth.[3]
Environmental adult education is a relatively new and unique field of study and practice. Using a community-based method, educators listen and respect the input of learners and all participants are considered essential.[4]
Although for more than a century, environmental and conservation organizations taught adults environmental education with very little structure, it has actually evolved during the last thirty years.
The United States was one of the first countries to officially recognize environmental education. During a joint House–Senate session in 1968, Congress acknowledged the importance of environmental education, and in 1970 passed the Environmental Education Act, which established the Office of Environmental Education.[5] In 1992, this framework began to emerge in Asia and Latin America, where it is considered a stream of adult education and sometimes referred to as environmental popular education.[2] The United Nations, for its part, began integrating the concept of environmental sustainability to the Education for All initiative, which is a set of UN policies with a goal of meeting learning needs of all people, as well as the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).[6] Specifically, the UN-organized Earth Summit in 1992, prompted the International Council for Adult Education to develop the Learning for Environmental Action Programme (LEAP) which took the initiative of facilitating the dialogue that connect environmental issues and adult learning.[2]
Timelineedit
Mid-1970s: EAE recognized as distinct field of study
Late 1980s: EAE focus on learner experience
Late 1990s, Early 2000: Focus shifted to how to teach EAE
1997: United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) hosted conference on adult education with EAE being one of the 33 workshops presented
Earlier environmental education initiativesedit
According to the UNESCO Web site,[citation needed] in 1968 it organized the first intergovernmental conference aimed at reconciling the environment and development, now known as "sustainable development". In the following years, UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) initiated three major declarations that defined environmental education. Those included:
1972: Stockholm Declaration. This document included seven proclamations and 26 principles "to inspire and guide the peoples of the world in the preservation and enhancement of the human environment."
1975: Belgrade Charter. The product of the International Workshop on Environmental Education, this charter built upon the Stockholm Declaration by adding goals, objectives and principles for environmental education programs.
1977: Tbilisi Declaration. This document updated and clarified the Stockholm Declaration and the Belgrade Charter by including new goals, objectives, characteristics, and guiding principles of environmental education.
Methodsedit
Educators in this field of study consider environmental problems with a holistic approach that combines social, political and environmental concerns into community dilemmas.[4]
Participatory methods allow learners to make connections between social issues and environmental problems. This connection allows adult learners to understand the core causes of major environmental issues and the resulting social inequalities. This method also allows educators to stress the importance of instilling environmental awareness so that learners do not forget their relationship with the natural world.
To summarize the methods of adult environmental education training, environmental adult educators strive to instil learners with:
a knowledge of environmental problems and their causes
the skills to engage in social activism to combat those problems
the attitude of respect and connection to the natural world
a desire to change current practices to protect the Earth
Environmental adult education generally takes place in a nonformal education setting. This means that the organized learning can take place in many forms including vocational education, literacy education and on the job training.[4] There are, however, examples of formal learning such as the degree programs and courses in higher education.[7] It could also be a combination of these methods of environmental educational program delivery as demonstrated in the case of El Salvador's National Environmental Education Strategy, which covered all aspect of education via a private-public partnership. The government - through its Ministry of Education - integrated environmental education in schools, including tertiary education institutions, while partners such as media outfits deliver meaningful environmental concepts to targeted audiences and the general public.[8]
Programs and organizations that encourage adult environmental educationedit
Conservation education and governmental agencies such as the Forestry Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) were established to educate adults in broad areas of the environment.
The Nature Conservancy, originally the Ecological Society of America, was formed in 1915 with the missions of supporting ecologists and preserving natural ecosystems.
The 4-H Organization was also established to reach adults by educating youth in areas of new agricultural technology and environmental awareness.
The Peace Corps, established in 1961, has worked to incorporate adult environmental education and conservation practices into its international programming. Volunteers assist in:
Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) is a nonprofit water education program and publisher. This program "promotes awareness, appreciation, knowledge and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom-ready teaching aids and the establishment of internationally sponsored Project WET programs." Committed to global water education that is implemented at the community level, the mission of Project WET is to reach children, parents, educators, and communities of the world with water education.[9]
Project WILD is a conservation and environmental education program for educators of students in kindergarten through high school. Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of the planet. It is based on the belief that young adults and educators have an interest in learning about the natural world.[10]
Project Learning Tree, a program of the American Forest Foundation, is a multi-disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK–Grade 12.
Gobar Times a monthly environmental education magazine for the young adult.
Referencesedit
Notesedit
^Sumner, J (2003). "Environmental adult education and community sustainability." New directions for adult and continuing education. Fall (99), 39–45
^ abcEnglish, Leona (2016). International Encyclopedia of Adult Education. New York: Palgrave Macmillan. pp. 218–219. ISBN9780230201712.
^Kasworm, Carol; Rose, Amy; Ross-Gordon, Jovita (2010). Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. p. 104. ISBN9781412960502.
^Barlett, Peggy; Chase, Geoffrey (2013). Sustainability in Higher Education: Stories and Strategies for Transformation. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. p. 1. ISBN9780262019491.
^Tilbury, Daniella; Stevenson, Robert; Fien, John; Schreuder, Danie (2002). Education and Sustainability: Responding to the Global Challenge. Cambridge, UK: IUCN. p. 155. ISBN2831706238.
American Geological Institute (2000). Update on the National Environmental Education Act of 1990. Retrieved September 27, 2008 from the American Geological Institute Web site: http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis106/neea106.html
Environmental Education (2008). The Modern Impetus for EE: The Tbilisi Declaration (1977). Retrieved September 27, 2008, from the Global Development Research Center Web site: http://www.gdrc.org/uem/ee/1-4.html
Haugen, C.S. (2006). Environmental Adult education Theory and Adult Learning Principles: Implications for Training. M.A. thesis, American University, in Proquest Digital Dissertations
Hill, L.H. & Johnston, J.D. (2003). Adult education and humanity's relationship with nature reflected in language, metaphor and spirituality: A call to action. New directions for adult and continuing education, Fall 2003 (99), 17–26
Parker, J & Towner, E. (1993). Editorial: Learning for the future. Adults learning, 4 (8) 208–209
Sumner, J (2003). Environmental adult education and community sustainability. New directions for adult and continuing education, Fall (99), 39–45.
United Nations Environment Programme (2008). The Belgrade Charter adopted at the International Workshop on Environmental Education in 1975. Retrieved September 27, 2008, from United Nations Environment Programme Web site:
External linksedit
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Adult Learners and the Environment in Last Century: An Historical Analysis of Environmental Adult Education
Challenges for Environmental Education: Issues and Ideas for the 21st Century
Child-orientated environmental education influences adult knowledge and household behaviour
January 01, 1970
environmental, adult, education, this, article, require, cleanup, meet, wikipedia, quality, standards, cleanup, reason, been, specified, please, help, improve, this, article, february, 2011, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, recognized, hybrid, out. This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia s quality standards No cleanup reason has been specified Please help improve this article if you can February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Environmental adult education is recognized as a hybrid outgrowth of the environmental movement and adult education combining an ecological orientation with a learning paradigm to provide a vigorous educational approach to environmental concerns 1 In laymen s terms environmental adult education refers to efforts in teaching environmental issues and how individuals and businesses can manage or change their lifestyles and their ecosystems in order to achieve sustainable existence The overarching goal of this field of study is to educate global citizens in order for them to gain sustainable lives within their respective societies The content could also include ecological justice integrating social concerns such as poverty race gender and sexual orientation among others 2 This relationship is demonstrated in the impact of the excesses of global capitalism and its insatiable need for resources on people such as the polarization of power and wealth 3 Contents 1 History 1 1 Timeline 2 Earlier environmental education initiatives 3 Methods 4 Programs and organizations that encourage adult environmental education 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksHistory editEnvironmental adult education is a relatively new and unique field of study and practice Using a community based method educators listen and respect the input of learners and all participants are considered essential 4 Although for more than a century environmental and conservation organizations taught adults environmental education with very little structure it has actually evolved during the last thirty years The United States was one of the first countries to officially recognize environmental education During a joint House Senate session in 1968 Congress acknowledged the importance of environmental education and in 1970 passed the Environmental Education Act which established the Office of Environmental Education 5 In 1992 this framework began to emerge in Asia and Latin America where it is considered a stream of adult education and sometimes referred to as environmental popular education 2 The United Nations for its part began integrating the concept of environmental sustainability to the Education for All initiative which is a set of UN policies with a goal of meeting learning needs of all people as well as the Millennium Development Goals MDGs 6 Specifically the UN organized Earth Summit in 1992 prompted the International Council for Adult Education to develop the Learning for Environmental Action Programme LEAP which took the initiative of facilitating the dialogue that connect environmental issues and adult learning 2 Timeline edit Mid 1970s EAE recognized as distinct field of study Late 1980s EAE focus on learner experience Late 1990s Early 2000 Focus shifted to how to teach EAE 1997 United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization UNESCO hosted conference on adult education with EAE being one of the 33 workshops presentedEarlier environmental education initiatives editAccording to the UNESCO Web site citation needed in 1968 it organized the first intergovernmental conference aimed at reconciling the environment and development now known as sustainable development In the following years UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Program UNEP initiated three major declarations that defined environmental education Those included 1972 Stockholm Declaration This document included seven proclamations and 26 principles to inspire and guide the peoples of the world in the preservation and enhancement of the human environment 1975 Belgrade Charter The product of the International Workshop on Environmental Education this charter built upon the Stockholm Declaration by adding goals objectives and principles for environmental education programs 1977 Tbilisi Declaration This document updated and clarified the Stockholm Declaration and the Belgrade Charter by including new goals objectives characteristics and guiding principles of environmental education Methods editEducators in this field of study consider environmental problems with a holistic approach that combines social political and environmental concerns into community dilemmas 4 Participatory methods allow learners to make connections between social issues and environmental problems This connection allows adult learners to understand the core causes of major environmental issues and the resulting social inequalities This method also allows educators to stress the importance of instilling environmental awareness so that learners do not forget their relationship with the natural world To summarize the methods of adult environmental education training environmental adult educators strive to instil learners with a knowledge of environmental problems and their causes the skills to engage in social activism to combat those problems the attitude of respect and connection to the natural world a desire to change current practices to protect the Earth Environmental adult education generally takes place in a nonformal education setting This means that the organized learning can take place in many forms including vocational education literacy education and on the job training 4 There are however examples of formal learning such as the degree programs and courses in higher education 7 It could also be a combination of these methods of environmental educational program delivery as demonstrated in the case of El Salvador s National Environmental Education Strategy which covered all aspect of education via a private public partnership The government through its Ministry of Education integrated environmental education in schools including tertiary education institutions while partners such as media outfits deliver meaningful environmental concepts to targeted audiences and the general public 8 Programs and organizations that encourage adult environmental education editThe examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this article discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new article as appropriate February 2011 Learn how and when to remove this template message Conservation education and governmental agencies such as the Forestry Service and the Environmental Protection Agency EPA were established to educate adults in broad areas of the environment The Nature Conservancy originally the Ecological Society of America was formed in 1915 with the missions of supporting ecologists and preserving natural ecosystems The 4 H Organization was also established to reach adults by educating youth in areas of new agricultural technology and environmental awareness The Peace Corps established in 1961 has worked to incorporate adult environmental education and conservation practices into its international programming Volunteers assist in Environmental education Recycling Wildlife protection Park management Alleviating water borne diseases Providing potable water Project WET Water Education for Teachers is a nonprofit water education program and publisher This program promotes awareness appreciation knowledge and stewardship of water resources through the dissemination of classroom ready teaching aids and the establishment of internationally sponsored Project WET programs Committed to global water education that is implemented at the community level the mission of Project WET is to reach children parents educators and communities of the world with water education 9 Project WILD is a conservation and environmental education program for educators of students in kindergarten through high school Project WILD addresses the need for human beings to develop as responsible citizens of the planet It is based on the belief that young adults and educators have an interest in learning about the natural world 10 Project Learning Tree a program of the American Forest Foundation is a multi disciplinary environmental education program for educators and students in PreK Grade 12 Gobar Times a monthly environmental education magazine for the young adult References editNotes edit Sumner J 2003 Environmental adult education and community sustainability New directions for adult and continuing education Fall 99 39 45 a b c English Leona 2016 International Encyclopedia of Adult Education New York Palgrave Macmillan pp 218 219 ISBN 9780230201712 Dentith Audrey Griswold Wendy 2017 Ecojustice Adult Education Hoboken NJ John Wiley amp Sons ISBN 9781119383833 a b c Haugen 2006 American Geological Institute 2000 Kasworm Carol Rose Amy Ross Gordon Jovita 2010 Handbook of Adult and Continuing Education Thousand Oaks CA SAGE p 104 ISBN 9781412960502 Barlett Peggy Chase Geoffrey 2013 Sustainability in Higher Education Stories and Strategies for Transformation Cambridge MA MIT Press p 1 ISBN 9780262019491 Tilbury Daniella Stevenson Robert Fien John Schreuder Danie 2002 Education and Sustainability Responding to the Global Challenge Cambridge UK IUCN p 155 ISBN 2831706238 Project WET Project WILD Bibliography edit American Geological Institute 2000 Update on the National Environmental Education Act of 1990 Retrieved September 27 2008 from the American Geological Institute Web site http www agiweb org gap legis106 neea106 html Environmental Education 2008 The Modern Impetus for EE The Tbilisi Declaration 1977 Retrieved September 27 2008 from the Global Development Research Center Web site http www gdrc org uem ee 1 4 html Haugen C S 2006 Environmental Adult education Theory and Adult Learning Principles Implications for Training M A thesis American University in Proquest Digital Dissertations Hill L H amp Johnston J D 2003 Adult education and humanity s relationship with nature reflected in language metaphor and spirituality A call to action New directions for adult and continuing education Fall 2003 99 17 26 Parker J amp Towner E 1993 Editorial Learning for the future Adults learning 4 8 208 209 Sumner J 2003 Environmental adult education and community sustainability New directions for adult and continuing education Fall 99 39 45 United Nations Environment Programme 2008 Declaration of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment Retrieved September 27 2008 from United Nations Environment Programme Web site http webarchive loc gov all 20150314024203 http 3A www unep org Documents Multilingual Default asp documentid 3D97 26articleid 3D1503 United Nations Environment Programme 2008 The Belgrade Charter adopted at the International Workshop on Environmental Education in 1975 Retrieved September 27 2008 from United Nations Environment Programme Web site https web archive org web 20090226013849 http portal unesco org education en ev php URL ID 3D33037 26URL DO 3DDO TOPIC 26URL SECTION 3D201 htmlExternal links editUnited Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization 1 The Peace Corps 2 The 4 H Organization History 3 U S Environmental Protection Agency History 4 U S Forestry Service History 5 Archived 2008 10 02 at the Wayback Machine The Nature Conservancy 6 Project WET 7 Project WILD 8 Project Learning Tree 9 Adult Learners and the Environment in Last Century An Historical Analysis of Environmental Adult Education Challenges for Environmental Education Issues and Ideas for the 21st Century Child orientated environmental education influences adult knowledge and household behaviour Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Environmental adult education amp oldid 1213032444, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
