Department of Education, Unit Catalogue 2008/09 |
ED50314 Environmental education: learning and teaching |
| Credits: 12 |
| Level: Masters |
| Modular: no specific semester |
| Assessment: CW 100% |
| Requisites: |
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Aims: The aims of this unit are to develop within students a critical understanding of:
* the range of environmental and sustainable development education learning goals; * the learning opportunities that communities, schools and outdoor settings provide, and how policies and practices influence learning in these different settings; * what learning approaches, styles and strategies are appropriate for environmental learning; * how educators can take account of learners&© perspectives in planning and implementing programmes; * how learning programmes in environmental education can impact on the learner. Learning Outcomes: At the end of this unit students will be able to: * demonstrate knowledge about current national and international developments in environmental learning from a broad range of perspectives; * analyse and comment critically on issues arising from current initiatives and trends; * evaluate critically a range of approaches to learning and teaching in environmental learning; * identify a range of developmental issues and needs relating to their own work. Skills: Self-directed learning (F) Problem analysis, research and reflection (T/F/A) Problem-solving (F/A) Oral presentation (F) (where appropriate) Written communication (A) Integrated, cross-discipline understanding of issues relating to learning and environmental / social change (F/A) Appreciation of the multifaceted nature of learning in relation to social /environmental issues (F/A) Ability to research, synthesise and decide on the relevancy of knowledge and ideas to issues of environmental learning (F/A) Key Skills 1. Make critical use of the literature of the field of Education (T/F/A). 2. Make critical use of professional experience in the field of Education (T/F/A). 4. Analyse, interpret and critique findings and arguments (T/F/A). 9. Demonstrate self-direction and originality in tackling and solving problems (T/F). 10. Evaluate research and variety of types of information and evidence critically, also making informed judgements in the absence of complete data (T/F/A) 12. Contribute to professional debate in the field of education (F). 13. Act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level (F). 14. Communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences (T/F). 15. Evaluate their own academic and professional performance (T/F/A). 16. Manage change effectively and respond to changing demands (F). 17. Manage time, prioritise workloads and recognise and manage personal emotions and stress (F). 18. Develop new or higher level skill, for example in information technology (F). Content: The unit will address a number of issues relating to: * Environmental Learning and Learners: - making sense of the environment and environmental learning; introducing research into environmental learning; what are the learning goals of environmental/sustainable development education? * Contexts for Environmental Learning: - analysing/ presenting children&©s young people&©s ideas about the environment; exploring the potential of e-learning * Learning and Teaching in environmental education: - exploring frameworks and models of teaching and learning styles and strategies; environmental education pedagogy; exploring/ evaluating the contribution of different contexts/ models; pursuing settings in more depth - community, residential/ outdoor; schools * Reflecting on Environmental Learning: - evaluating educational programmes: participants' perspectives on personal and institutional practice and professional development needs; assessing environmental learning; participants' perspectives on personal and institutional practice and professional development needs. |