This week we focused on environmental education and place based learning in my EDU 100 class. Our assignment for this blog is to synthesize a topic we learned about, so i chose to talk about a lesson I found and have even done before. It is an environmental lesson so I also decided to take a step further and I researched whether environmental learning even works? The answer is YES!

First here is the pin I found. It teaches the effects oil has on the environment

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/341710690451519151/
http://www.education.com/activity/article/oil-spills-harm-wildlife/


Materials: oil, feathers, dish soap, water, tooth brush

                 \/                                   1.  Dip feathers in oil. Talk about how gross and heavy it feels and                                                          relate it back to the topic oil spills are bad for the environment,                                                                   See below \/ 
       1.  
2.  ]
Wash the feathers off with dish soap and a tooth brush and let dry.
Talk about how people help the animals by washing them off.

1. Environmental education
2. Environmental education is a process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions.  -Google search "environmental education definition"

In my research it was hard to find any negative effects of environmental education. The was my firt clue that it works! There many helpful booklets online to evaluate if your environmental education is working or not, so there are ways of improving if you feel your system is not quite working. I also found an article that says  "Since 1992, PLT's community action program,GreenWorks! has helped fund nearly 1,000 community service projects across the country." -American Forest Foundation This article talks of the positive aspects of environmental education, like the one quoted above. This statistic that is quoted is also proof environmental education works. There have been differences made. Over 1000. They might not all be large, but a difference is a difference. Also in my research I found an online booklet that measures the success of Environmental Education called "Measuring the Success of Environmental Education."While reading I learned that there has been many changes to the definition of environmental education, but also that it is still important. I also learned there are principles the book lists that effective environmental education includes. 

Are credible, reputable, and based on solid facts,

traditional knowledge, or on science. Values, biases,

and assumptions are made explicit.

Create knowledge and understanding about ecological,

social, economic, and political concepts, and

demonstrate the interdependence between a healthy

environment, human well-being, and a sound

economy.

Involve a cycle of continual improvement that includes

the processes of design, delivery, evaluation, and

redesign.

Are grounded in a real-world context that is specific to

age, curriculum, and place, and encourage a personal

affinity with the earth through practical experiences

out-of-doors and through the practice of an ethic of

care. Like the environment itself, programs transcend

curricular boundaries, striving to integrate traditional

subject areas and disciplines.

Provide creative learning experiences that are hands-on

and learner-centred, where students teach each other

and educators are mentors and facilitators. These

experiences promote higher order thinking and provide

a cooperative context for learning and evaluation.

Now there is a lot to this list, and this list does not need to be 100% implemented but these are the characteristics that have proven to be successful in environmental education. This means that effective systems of environmental education have been studied that actually work and these are principles which they possess. This list come from proof that environmental education actually does its job.

So in conclusion with these principles being considered and used and differences being made it is clear that environmental education does work and if it doesn't there are many ways and a lot of help to improve it.



"We believe that environmental awareness and caring for the natural world should be crucial components of youth education". -The EcoCenter.Org

For my education class this week we are learning of curriculum and theories. For this blog I will discuss a theory I researched which interested me. 

The theorist I chose is Montessori. I enjoyed learning of this theory in the last learning module with videos and discussions, so I decided to continue my research on the theory. 

"Montessori theory that can be applied across all ages.

Those principles are: Independence, Observation, Following the Child, Correcting the Child, Prepared Environment and Absorbent Mind. It is within these concepts we find the reasoning behind why things are such in a Montessori environment. These are goals and beliefs that Maria Montessori held with regards to the education of children."

Maria Montessori, creator of Montessori Theory

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nb7QLOCW8hs (Links to an external site.)

Here is a video we watched in our class on the Montesorri Theory that sold me on the idea in the first place. 

 This is the definition I found on what the Montessori theory is. In short it is a way of teaching that applies the 6 principles listed above to teaching methods. This theory encourages children and students to learn on their own and by their own means. It allows students to choose what they want to learn and even how they can learn it. As I drive home from school every day I see a sign for a Montessori school, but never knew what it was until last week. Now I want my own child to one day attend this kind of school. 

While researching lessons for Montessori Schools I found them to be more home school based. I think this system should be more available in a school setting though. Some of the lessons I saw were about cooking, playing games, and just reading books with children. These simple lessons teach independence and interpret letters, numbers, and science in them as well. Here is an example of a cooking lesson I found on a Montessori school website. 

We also had to learn about the banking theory which, I personally have become accustomed to. It is a theory when the teacher has all the control over a classroom and the students act as the "Slaves" as the reading said. I do think the Montessori Theory is the exact opposite and I think Maria Montessori, the creator of this theory, would be disgusted that the Banking Theory. I think it is so appalling because each child is different. Each child learns different, and therefor they should not all be taught the same way, and especially not like "slaves" "The banking approach...will never propose to children that they critically consider reality" This quote from the Banking Theory designed by Freire proves its opposition to the Montessori Theory. It says children will never think critically about reality whereas in the Montessori theory, children learn and think from reality. 

http://www.dailymontessori.com/montessori-theory/

Philosophy in the Classroom

So this week we learned all about philosophy in the educational system. This is something I hadn't really considered before and I'm glad we learned about...it really does come into play a lot more than one would think. There are many different philosophies to believe in and to practice.. it all comes down to a persons beliefs and how they portray them. "Various theories of learning have been suggested, and these theories differ for a variety of reasons." This is from an article from the website Education.com We learned that these philosophies derive from ancient times from famous philosophers (who were also educators) like Plato, Aristotle, and Socrates. And their methods of philosophy are still implemented in how people teach and learn today in modern education! While exploring the different philosophies and theories we were encourages to consider ourselves and where we fall into this world. Personally I do believe and admire Plato and his philosophies. 


After researching and learning of all the different philosophies that schools, teachers, and students "run off of" we got to assess our own philosophies. When assessing mine I found I am Reconstructive Critical Theorist as a teacher/person.

Reconstructionism/Critical Theory
Social reconstructionists advocate that schools should take the lead to reconstruct society in order
to create a better world. Schools have more than a responsibility to transmit knowledge, they have
the mission to transform society as well. Reconstructionists use critical thinking skills, inquiry,
question-asking, and the taking of action as teaching strategies. Students learn to handle
controversy and to recognize multiple perspectives.

^ This is the definition the assessment gave me, and I have to say... I think it is right on the money with my beliefs and my game plans as an aspiring educator. Since I agree with the outcome I do think this was an effective assessment.

I think that my philosophical outlook will come into my role as a teacher quite a bit. I believe that students should be taught more how to critically think than to solve a simple problem. I believe that in instilling critical thinking it will help out students to come up with more original solutions and also help them when solving any problem.. school related or not. It is an important trait to have. I believe. like the theory that schools have a big part in shaping the world. After all isn't it commonly said "The children are our future" so why not send our students into the world ready to take it on and make it a better place. I think I will have a lot of hand on activities in my classroom and ask a lot more open ended question that cause my students to think outside the box. If the children are of age I would even enjoy having discussions and sharing our ideas.