EE: Essay on Environmental Education !
Environmental education (EE) refers to organized efforts to teach about
how natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can
manage their behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably.
The term is often used to imply education within the school system,
from primary to post secondary. However, it is sometimes used more
broadly to include all efforts to educate the public and other
audiences, including print materials, websites, media campaigns, etc.
Related disciplines include outdoor education and experiential
education.
Environmental education is a learning process that increases peoples
knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated
challenges, develops the necessary skills and expertise to address the
challenges, and fosters attitudes, motivations, and commitments to
make informed decisions and take responsible action (UNESCO, Tbilisi
Declaration, 1978).
Environmental education generally refers to curriculum and
programs which aim to teach people about the natural world and
particularly about ways in which ecosystems work. Environmental
education programs often aim to change peoples perceptions about
the value of the natural world and to teach how to change
environmental behavior, such as getting people to recycle or how to
build eco-friendly dwellings.
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Environmental education programs often aim to (i) help students
develop factual knowledge about the natural environment,
particularly with regard to how ecosystems work and human impacts
on the natural environment; (ii) foster more positive perceptions
about the value of the natural world (iii) develop eco-friendly habits,
(iv) engage students in environmental rejuvenation projects and (v)
develop students psychological and spiritual relationship with
nature.
The components of environmental education are:
(i) Awareness and senility about the environment and environmental
challenges
(ii) Knowledge and understanding about the environment and
environmental challenges
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(iii) Attitude concern for the environment and help to maintain
environmental quality
(iv) Skills to mitigate the environmental problems
(v) Participation for exercising existing knowledge and
environmental related programmes
Environmental Education helps ensure the health and welfare of any
Nation by the following basic environmental concerns. The
environmental concerns are: protecting human health, advancing
quality education, creating jobs in the environmental field, promoting
environmental protection along with economic development,
encouraging stewardship of natural resources
Protecting Human Health:
The link between environmental challenges and human health is a
major cause of public concern about the environment. Lead
poisoning from paint and pipes, air pollution, pesticides in water and
food supplies, increased threats of skin cancer from depletion of the
ozone layer, and other environmental and health issues are of
growing concern to Americans, especially effects on children and
future generations.
Environmental education can help to prevent or mitigate
environmental human health problems by providing the public with
information on the causes of environmental pollution. It also gives
knowledge on how pollutants may affect health, how to assess real
versus exaggerated risks, and how to make informed and responsible
decisions that prevent or mitigate the effects of pollution on health.
Advancing Quality Education:
Educators and public officials generally believe that improvements
are needed in the nations public education system to enhance
student learning. Many educational scholars and practitioners agree
that students are not doing well at thinking, reasoning, analyzing, or
problem solving.
Many goals of education reform emphasize the need to strengthen
core subjects such as maths, science, and geography; teach across
subject areas; improve critical- thinking and problem-solving skills;
and relate learning in the classroom to the needs and issues of the
community. Environmental education has a tremendous potential to
contribute to these goals of education reform.
For example, it can strengthen teaching in many core subjects,
especially science, because science is the basis for solving many of our
environmental challenges. At the same time, environmental
education can promote interdisciplinary teaching because
environmental topics can be addressed from many different
perspectives, including scientific, historical, and cultural.
Environmental education can also bring local environmental
challenges into the classroom to improve analysis and problemsolving skills.
The final aspect of environmental education policies, but certainly
not least important, is training individuals to thrive in a sustainable
society. In addition to building a strong relationship with nature,
American citizens must have the skills and knowledge to succeed in a
21st century workforce. Thus, environmental education policies fund
both teacher training and worker training initiatives.
Teachers must be trained to effectively teach and incorporate
environmental studies in their curricula. On the other hand, the
current workforce must be trained or re-trained so that they can
adapt to the new green economy. Environmental education policies
that fund training programs are critical in educating citizens to
prosper in a sustainable society.
Essay on the Importance of
Environmental Education
Article shared by Pragati Ghosh
WWF-India believes that environmental education is a lifelong process that
encourages exploring, raise questions, investigate issues and seek solutions to
environmental and social problems.
Environmental education (EE) refers to organised efforts to teach about how
natural environments function and, particularly, how human beings can manage their
behavior and ecosystems in order to live sustainably.
The term is often used to imply education within the school system, from primary to
post-secondary. However, it is sometimes used more broadly to include all efforts to
educate the public and other audiences, including print materials, websites, media
campaigns, etc.
Environmental Education is a process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts
in order to develop skills and added tools necessary to understand and appreciate
the interrelationship among man, his culture and his bio-physical surrounding.
It creates an overall perspective, which acknowledges the fact that natural
environment and man-made environment are inter-dependent. It should consider the
environment in its totality and should be a continuous lifelong process beginning at
the pre-school level and continuing through all stages.
It should be inter-disciplinary and examine major environmental issues from local,
national and international points of view. It should utilize various educational
approaches to teach and learn about and from the environment with stress on
practical activities and first-hand experience. It is through this process of education
that people can be sensitized about the environmental issues.
Ever since its inception in 1969, WWF-Indias Environment Education (EE)
programme has come a long way in achieving its mission: strengthen human and
institutional capacity in nature conservation and environmental protection on a long
term basis, with the help of environment education and awareness activities.
Knowledge creates awareness, and the right attitude is the prerequisite for
sustainable social action. This in essence is how environment education can pave
the way to a sustainable future.
WWF-India believes that environmental education is a lifelong process to seek
relevant solutions to environmental and social issues. It strives to strengthen
individual and institutional capacity for nature conservation and environmental
protection, by promoting education and awareness within the social structure.
WWF-India seeks mitigate environmental degradation by fostering teamwork and
ecological sensitivity by initiating the process of discovering and appreciating the
wonders of nature.
Objectives:
i. Develop mechanisms and institutions for enhancing outreach activities through
Nature Clubs of India, Eco clubs and Interpretation Programmes.
ii. Increase our presence and influence in formal education system at the primary
and higher levels through policy advocacy with the Central Boards and the National
Council for Education and Research Training.
iii. Develop a comprehensive teacher training programme that includes recapitulation.
iv. Develop and implement environment sensitization programmes or modules for
key target groups.
v. Advocate research on EE in the formal education to enhance impacts on policies
related to increased focus on EE.
vi. To encourage non-governmental organisations, mass media and other concerned
organisations for promoting awareness among the people at all levels;
vii. To ensure training and manpower development in environment education; and
viii. To mobilise peoples awareness for the preservation and conservation of
environment.
