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- All Subjects: Environmental Education
- Creators: Division of Teacher Preparation
- Creators: Bowman, Diana
- Creators: Cloutier, Scott
- Status: Published
This project consisted of creating at-home lesson plan activities for middle school sixth-grade students centered around environmental education topics. The lesson plan activities were informal for students to do at home by themselves or alongside their parents. I focused on Environmental Education topics such as awareness, animal and plant life so that students can learn more about the environments that surround them. Environmental Education invites students to look closer at the environment surrounding them while also helping them develop a sense of place and respect for their environment. My lesson plan activities encouraged students to go outside and learn more about their surroundings, developing an awareness and an appreciation for their natural setting. After implementing the lessons, I surveyed the students on the following 1) engagement: was the activity enjoyable 2) knowledge: what did you learn? and 3) the ease of the activity directions: what challenges did they face. After collecting the surveys, I analyzed them to see what went well, and changes I would make to future activities.
While external or outer interventions can support a transition to a sustainable future,
internal or inner developments should also be highly valued. For this dissertation, I define
sustainability as the ability of any individual, community or country to meet their needs
and live happily without compromising the ability of other individuals, communities,
countries and future generations to meet their needs and live happily. Framed this way, a
sustainable and happy life should focus on both outer and inner development, the latter
largely unconsidered in sustainability science and scholarship.
I propose that emphasizing spiritual wellbeing and spiritual practices can support
individuals and communities to act with mindfulness, awareness, compassion,
connection, and love, transitioning to a more sustainable existence. This dissertation
consists of three studies: (1) the development of a theoretical framework identifying
spirituality as the missing link between sustainability and happiness, (2) an empirical
pilot study testing the theoretical framework via contemplative practices in a
sustainability classroom, and (3) an autoethnography exploring my inner development
and transformation as a sustainability and spirituality researcher over the past four years.
The theoretical framework found and posits, based on existing literature, that
spirituality indeed may be the missing link between an unsustainable existence and a
sustainably and happy future. Results from the empirical study suggest that a focus on
spirituality leads students to develop inner traits necessary for sustainable behavior and a
deeper understanding of sustainability. My autoethnography demonstrates the spiritual
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transformation possible from integrating spiritual well-being and intellect, while striving
to embody sustainability as a spiritual journey. My research supports further studies and a
greater understanding of the importance of spiritual well-being to sustainability and the
incorporation of contemplative practices in sustainability classrooms. Finally, I hope this
dissertation will (1) inspire sustainability scientists, researchers, and students to integrate
spiritual well-being as an important part of their lives and work, and (2) encourage deeper
conversations about the radical inner shift we need to achieve lasting sustainability for all
beings.
The existing educational system is failing to provide adequate environmental education to future generations so that they will have the knowledge, skills, and capability to address the environmental concerns that society is facing. The system must encompass environmental education through adoption of an eco-pedagogical system that either contributes to traditional education or is utilized on its own. The eco-pedagogical system produces education from a social and ecological point of view. As a result of the approach, students would develop and form a connection to nature as well as environmental hope. Each of these components will contribute to the student’s motivation, pathway thinking, agency thinking, and social trust. Leading to the development of the student's aptitude and capability to establish a goal and a plan to achieve it, as well as the identification of potential barriers and strategies for overcoming them. Ultimately, environmental education will equip future generations with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a social system that is capable of sustaining life while also caring for the environment and addressing environmental concerns produced by anthropocentric consequences. Keywords: Environmental education, eco-pedagogy, connection to nature, environmental hope Website Link: https://kvidean43.wixsite.com/environmentaled
The existing educational system is failing to provide adequate environmental education to future generations so that they will have the knowledge, skills, and capability to address the environmental concerns that society is facing. The system must encompass environmental education through adoption of an eco-pedagogical system that either contributes to traditional education or is utilized on its own. The eco-pedagogical system produces education from a social and ecological point of view. As a result of the approach, students would develop and form a connection to nature as well as environmental hope. Each of these components will contribute to the student’s motivation, pathway thinking, agency thinking, and social trust. Leading to the development of the student's aptitude and capability to establish a goal and a plan to achieve it, as well as the identification of potential barriers and strategies for overcoming them. Ultimately, environmental education will equip future generations with the knowledge and skills necessary to create a social system that is capable of sustaining life while also caring for the environment and addressing environmental concerns produced by anthropocentric consequences. Keywords: Environmental education, eco-pedagogy, connection to nature, environmental hope Website Link: https://kvidean43.wixsite.com/environmentaled