Should the dimension and scope of ecological knowledge in contemporary education and schooling systems be increased in the context of the growing problems of the modern world?
Contemporary XXI century is, among other things, the age of national and globally recognized growing problems regarding environmental protection, ecology, protection of ecosystems and species of various life threatened by extinction, growing risk of climatic cataclysms associated with the progressing greenhouse effect on Earth, exhausting some categories of resources necessary for development modern industries, the need for energy transformation, conversion of classic sources of energy based on minerals to renewable, ecological energy sources. In view of the above, the question becomes more and more relevant: Should the dimension and scope of ecological knowledge in contemporary education and schooling systems be increased in the context of the growing problems of the modern world?
Please, answer, comments. I invite you to the discussion.
Dear Dariusz
You posted one of the most important issues in this forum.
In my opinion there is no doubt that ecological instruction has to be given to students at the three levels.
That is, especially nowadays, it is as important as to learn how to read and write.
People have to be instructed on how to make a rational use of their resources, on following a responsible consumption of water, air, soil, energy, food, etc., and the obligation and reasons for recycling, in buying products in bulk instead of paying more for attractive and useless colored packing, and this has to begin in the elementary school. The children of today will be the ones in a near future going to supermarkets and making their purchases.
People need to be instructed not just about the beauty of our forests and green spaces, but about their contribution to our living in the planet, and the necessity of their conservation and possible expansion.
Homeowners should be convinced about the absurdity of using for gardens and yards wetting, or car washing, the same quality of water used for cooking, drinking and hygiene.
Children and teens should be encouraged in talking at home about the necessity of going to the supermarket with their own recyclable bag, and rejecting the offer of plastic bags, that without a doubt should be absolutely forbidden.
Teens and third-degree students should be persuaded the absurdity of driving a car when the only passenger is the driver, and must encouraged to share the car in going to school, the university or to a party.
Especially in the third level, people taking courses in STEM (Sciences, Technic, Engineering and Mathematics), should have mandatory courses in each year of their careers, about how to care for the environment, because this people have the key for our survival, and also for our future death when the planet Earth be no longer able to sustain us.
Consequently, I believe that ecological instruction has to be mandatory and included in the curriculum of all schools and universities.
Dear Dariusz
You posted one of the most important issues in this forum.
In my opinion there is no doubt that ecological instruction has to be given to students at the three levels.
That is, especially nowadays, it is as important as to learn how to read and write.
People have to be instructed on how to make a rational use of their resources, on following a responsible consumption of water, air, soil, energy, food, etc., and the obligation and reasons for recycling, in buying products in bulk instead of paying more for attractive and useless colored packing, and this has to begin in the elementary school. The children of today will be the ones in a near future going to supermarkets and making their purchases.
People need to be instructed not just about the beauty of our forests and green spaces, but about their contribution to our living in the planet, and the necessity of their conservation and possible expansion.
Homeowners should be convinced about the absurdity of using for gardens and yards wetting, or car washing, the same quality of water used for cooking, drinking and hygiene.
Children and teens should be encouraged in talking at home about the necessity of going to the supermarket with their own recyclable bag, and rejecting the offer of plastic bags, that without a doubt should be absolutely forbidden.
Teens and third-degree students should be persuaded the absurdity of driving a car when the only passenger is the driver, and must encouraged to share the car in going to school, the university or to a party.
Especially in the third level, people taking courses in STEM (Sciences, Technic, Engineering and Mathematics), should have mandatory courses in each year of their careers, about how to care for the environment, because this people have the key for our survival, and also for our future death when the planet Earth be no longer able to sustain us.
Consequently, I believe that ecological instruction has to be mandatory and included in the curriculum of all schools and universities.
My answer to your question is yes, ecological or environmental issues should be part of the education programs at all levels in all countries.
In my opinion all ecological or environmental issues are also social-taught issues that affect humanity as a whole. Under this socio-cultural approach, the integrated planing of education curricula is directly bounded on the ecological and environmental dimensions. Actually, under the reference context of " growing problems of the modern world", it is societal responsibility of all developing and developed economies to inspire students with environmental consciousness, enabling them to wisely treat natural and energy sources as ultimate common goods.
Knowledge about the existence and vulnerability of ecosystems should be started at kindergarten and primary schools to give responsibility to look after this planet early. It should continue into secondary school and into University curricula
Hi
Yes for these reasons
Top 10 Benefits of Environmental Education
Imagination and enthusiasm are heightened
Learning transcends the classroom
Critical and creative thinking skills are enhanced
Tolerance and understanding are supported
State and national learning standards are met for multiple subjects
Biophobia and deficiency of nature deficiency
Healthy lifestyles are encouraged
Communities are strengthened
Responsible action is taken to better the environment
Students and teachers are empowered
The importance of the issue of environmental education in light of the threats of the effects of climate change. There is an urgent need for direct solutions to the problems and the importance of focusing on young people to educate them at an early age with knowledge and providing them with the necessary tools to become leaders of development, change and crisis resolution. Climate change are a shared responsibility of all parents, teachers, academics and environmental activists alike
Great contributions! We definitely need to enlighten kids on the negative effects of global warming from an early age.
Definitely yes. Environmental studies is a mandatory graduation subject in universities and colleges of India.
The first suggestion about ecological education for the 21st century is that we must better develop our capacity to make visions. I believe using development methods such as artificial intelligence in education and their application to environmental control is the first step to the best education under the different stage of education
Yes; ecology is a very big subject but a great base for understanding the world and oneself, operates at many scales, Buddhism is perhaps the closest spiritual guide with it's concept of Karmic connection. Humans need a sense of purpose so this side of life cannot be ignored
I agree, and children should be taught the importance of preserving the ecosystems. At the same time adults should also learn and attempt to improve, conserve, and protect ecosystems. Hopefully the teachers, the staff, the parents - and all those involved will also learn during this process!
Teaching ecological conservation on a stand-alone basis is not very effective. It needs o be embedded into General Education.
The question may be put in a another way, e.g. Has increased agricultural education led to increased agricultural yield?, Has increased religious education reduced crime rate?......e.t.c.
My view is that either some form of "penalty"should be attached to environmental degradation, or some form of "reward" to be pegged on environmental conservation. The next question would be, how (i.e which mechanism), what scale (e.g. local, national or regional, continental or global), and who benefits (or gets punished)?
yes.. definitely it will help to understand how any system works in equilibrium if not disturbed.
Ethics from such process will help to live ideal and peaceful life with no more demands than need as other creatures survive in limited resources ready example is trees. This can be taught as inclusive model for undergraduates.
I do it my way in class. Best response is of students.
Competition should for marks and constructive things and mutualism should for well being of all. This is realised by them through ecosystem concepts and other nature phenomenon.
Same laws are applicable in society as we r very evolved from nature. This should be told them. None other than envi tutor can do it.
A resounding YES!! In the words of Baba Dioum, " In the end we will conserve only what we love; we will love only what we understand; and we will understand only what we are taught. "
Darius,
Your question is very apt and I honestly think that there is need to increase ecological knowledge to cover different tiers of education including primary education. Even at the tertiary level, the principles of ecology and conservation should be taught students irrespective of their disciplines. I strongly think that an enhanced understanding of the interconnectivity of the various components of the global ecosystem will affect the way we manage it and help us develop sustainably.
Yes, absolutely. With special mention that ecological education needs to be anchored on understanding the environment as a whole that integrates nature and humans, with all they get from – resources, services - and put into environment – waste, pollutants. Thus, connections between quality of environment and quality of life can be tracked and solutions for sustainable use of nature, sustainable economic growth and sustainable social development can be found.
Certainly yes. Though environment education is already percolated in primary education and we see children are ware of the things . Now to add up ecological education with environment will give them holistic image of how the whole earth system in living & non living works and what is importance of these components. As Kenneth M Towe
pointed out is more agriculture education has increased agri yield?? but its equally true expansion of agri education expand the horizons of agricultural sciences from production to utlisation including developing entrepreneurship and marketing. So education in focus manner does play a vita role to go for any mission mode approach at later stage.
Totally agree with question. Start the ecological study from school level so that children should learn the importance of preserving ecosystems. As well as same time adults should also learn and attempt to improve, conserve, and protect ecosystems. Hopefully in this way we will be improve the knowledge of all stake holders.
I think ecological education should be included into the educational system, but may not alone lead to improving humans performance with regarding to destroying the natural resources and ecosystems. This should be backed up with focus on fixing behaviours and morals, i.e. if humans only stopped wasting food this should help massively to reduce ecological problems.
To add to Kenneth answer about food crops and biofuel. Using any food crop is a stupid idea when you think about the amount of people in this world who do not have access to food on a daily bases. We read about food shortages and yet, we still are using food crops for biofuel! The only way to address this is through education. In some institute of higher education ecological education is being address but only as an introduction. We need to expand this into full classes addressing ecology, and how ecology applies to improving nature and humans. It needs to cover energy efficiency and behavior as well as the importance of nature in our daily lives. If we continue on the current path we are setting ourselves up for dangerous conditions that will be more difficult to adjust to. It's going to be hard enough adapting to current condition . How are we going to adapt if we continue on the current path?
Thank you for your answers.
I am glad that interesting reflections, responses and conclusions have emerged that may be an inspiration to continue research in this area.
In my opinion, it is good that there was a discussion in the question of this query.
The answers given are very scientifically inspiring. Therefore, I am still reading the answers, following the interesting discussion.
More and more scientific research confirms that if the average annual temperature at the surface of the Earth by the end of the 21st century will rise by a further 3-4 ° C, then man will become an endangered species. If this black scenario was to be realized, in a few dozen years the areas that can be inhabited by people are significantly shrinking globally.
Therefore, the importance of ecological education of society is growing. The role of independent media is also important in this matter.
I invite you to the discussion.
Environmental education should simultaneously attempt to create awareness, impart information, teach knowledge, develop hobbies, habits and skills, promote values, provide standards and standards, and provide guidelines for problem solving and decision-making. This is a process that aims at starting work, focusing on projects and participating in activities, which will lead to enhancing self-confidence, positive attitudes and commitment to protecting the environment in person.
definitely---- otherwise we will face huge problems in context to our existence
Of course. Because, this is the only education that will remain intimately with us in every moment as long as we live. Everybody likes to know the quality of food eating, quality of water consuming, quality of air ingress and the quality of the area of living. Environmental Science is no doubt is a very complex subject as it is the hybrid of all subjects and so to grasp the knowledge is difficult. All Science subjects have been originated from this subject of environmental science. More impetus and opportunities should be given to have proper knowledge on this subjects
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