EDPROFST 363 : Environmental Education: An Introduction

Education and Social Work

2021 Semester Two (1215) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

An examination of the nature and purpose of environmental education in New Zealand educational settings. An exploration of curriculum integration models and the ways these can be used to plan and teach environmental education programmes. An investigation of past, present (and possible future) local, national, and global environmental issues and their impacts on the natural and built environments.

Course Overview

This course aims to help you to be able to teach environmental education in your classroom.  You will develop an understanding about the concept of sustainability and how it relates to teaching about environmental issues. You will learn about the aims of and pedagogy underpinning environmental education that leads to children being able to take action on environmental issues. You will also explore different models of integration and how these models can be incorporated into environmental education and other classroom programmes. How to plan for and assess when teaching environmental education programmes will also be explored. A visit to an environmental education-focused school will be organised, dependent upon current circumstances.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 225 points passed in the BEd(Tchg) Primary Specialisation

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2: Critical Thinking
Capability 3: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Social and Environmental Responsibilities

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Examine a past/present local, national or global environmental issue and how such an issue impacts on people and the natural and built environments. (Capability 2.1 and 2.2)
  2. Examine the nature and purpose of environmental education in educational settings. (Capability 1.1 and 1.2)
  3. Critique the notion of a cross-curricular approach to teaching and learning with particular reference to environmental education. (Capability 1.1 and 2.2)
  4. Apply knowledge and understandings of environmental education and notion of a cross-curricular approach to planning for teaching and learning. (Capability 1.1, 1.2, 2.2, 3.1 and 6.2)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Report 30% Individual Coursework
Journal & Presentation 20% Individual Coursework
Planning & Analysis 50% Individual Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3 4
Report
Journal & Presentation
Planning & Analysis
A formative task with no marks attached will occur at the end of the second lecture.

To pass this course students must submit all assessment tasks, and get an overall course mark of at least 50%.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and is delivered in a block. For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures and tutorials. You can also reasonably expect to commit approximately 100-120 hours of independent learning that will include reading, note-taking, face-to-face and online discussion, undertaking practical tasks, reflecting on learning, accessing learning and study resources, and assignment preparation and completion.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete the components of the course.
Lectures will be only be available as recordings if delivered in a room that has lecture-recording facilities. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.
The course will not include live online events.
The activities for the course are scheduled for block delivery.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

In their feedback from the previous evaluation, the students said that they enjoyed their visit to the primary school where exemplary environmental education was demonstrated. I invited a guest speaker to talk about the support available for environmental education and students found her presentation very helpful for their learning. Other students found the course content interesting and liked presenting their assignment to their peers and lecturer. Two students did not think that they received helpful feedback on their assignments. Next time this course is taught, I will ensure that all feedback is framed in terms of the marking criteria so that there is a clear understanding about what could be done to improve students' work. Also, I will have exemplars of assignments available that I will use to demonstrate differing levels of achievement to help students’ understanding of the requirements.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 30/11/2020 08:13 p.m.