We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Sustainability in K-12 education: how can schools support students to address challenges of environmental sustainability?
Summary
This action research study examines how K-12 schools can promote environmental sustainability, finding that successful programs combine student education, school-wide practices, and community engagement to reduce environmental impact.
This Action Research study aimed to determine how to promote awareness of and to share successful sustainability practices in public education. Cycle 1 research was to investigate school districts that have successfully implemented sustainability practices to reduce their school carbon footprint. The Cycle 2 Action Step was designed to address the need for conscious awareness of sustainability and how schools assist and support students in addressing environmental sustainability issues. And what is the impact on the students? The aim was to identify other programs addressing environmental sustainability issues, conduct Zoom interviews with educators on the design and impact of their program, develop a website to house the interviews and organize and facilitate discussions for other interested educators on these programs. Eight participants were invited to participate in a sixty-minute interview and a sixty-minute follow-up interview for data collection. The online website was used for video interviews, and associated resources were made available for anyone seeking information on the design and impact of environmentally sustainable practices. The findings show an unconscious awareness of single-use plastic (waste) in elementary school. A website housing interviews and resources around environmental sustainability can profoundly impact students and educators interested in environmental sustainability in public K-12 education. --Author's abstract
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Curriculum development for student agency on sustainability issues: An exploratory study
Researchers developed an exploratory middle-school sustainability curriculum designed to foster student agency by challenging students to analyze real-world data, construct scientific arguments, and engage in activism around sustainability issues framed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Environmental Literacy for Waste Management in an Academic Community: A Case Study
This case study examined environmental literacy and waste management practices in an academic community, finding that targeted environmental education programs can improve awareness and behavior around waste reduction and recycling.
Environmental education in schools: sustainability and hope
Researchers surveyed 100 teachers in Indonesia to assess the state of environmental education in schools, finding that while teachers hold high expectations for student learning and behavior change, schools need stronger curriculum integration, teacher training, and extracurricular programs to make environmental education effective.
School science activities with contributions from STEM practices: A study to address complex problems in elementary school classes, in the case of microplastics and their harmful effects
Researchers developed a theoretical and explanatory framework identifying which aspects of STEM education can strengthen the design of school science activities addressing complex problems such as microplastic pollution in elementary school settings. The study proposes a model for integrating STEM practices into classroom activities to build students' capacity to engage with real-world environmental challenges.
Systematic literature review: a typology of Sustainability Literacy and Environmental Literacy
This systematic literature review develops a typology of sustainability literacy and environmental education frameworks, mapping how different educational approaches define and measure student competencies related to ecological awareness and sustainable behavior.