Title: Teaching for a Positive Future: Education for Sustainability in the Preservice Preparation of Teache
1Teaching for a Positive Future Education for
Sustainability in the Preservice Preparation of
Teachers
NWATE Conference 2007Seattle, WA
Victor Nolet Associate Professor, Dept. of
Secondary Education Western Washington University
Gilda Wheeler Environmental and Sustainability
Ed. Coordinator, Office of Superintendent of
Public Instruction Program Director, Facing the
Future People and the Planet
2Agenda
- Sustainability Literate Teachers
- Teaching for a Positive Future at Woodring
College of Education - OSPI Education for Environment and Sustainability
Program and Initiatives - Other Projects in Washington
- Whats next for you?
3International FocusEducation for Sustainable
Development
- 2005-2014 is the United Nations Decade of
Education for Sustainable Development - Education for sustainable development involves
incorporating key themes of sustainable
development such as poverty alleviation, human
rights, health and environmental protection
into all education systems
4WA State Governors FocusEnvironmental
Sustainability
Washington must have a sustainable environmental
strategy. We must integrate economic vitality and
environmental integrity into a new kind of
prosperity - one that enriches today, without
impoverishing tomorrow. Our environmental
excellence will be the foundation of our economic
success. Washington State Governor, Christine
Gregoire, 2006
5WA State Business FocusEnvironmental
Sustainability
Companies that are moving toward sustainability
will have the upper hand in the future. To be
successful, companies will have to look at the
triple bottom line their ecological, social,
and financial statements should even out.
Brian Nattrass, 18th Annual Washington Retail
Seminar
6Washington LearnsNovember 2006
- Goals for World Class Education System
- Goal 6 All students will graduate from high
school with an international perspective and the
skills to live, learn and work in a diverse state
and a global society.
7What does Sustainability mean?
8- Environment
- Economy
- Society/Culture
9- How are they interconnected?
10Making sure the current generation can meet its
needs while at the same time making sure future
generations can meet their needs Our Common
Future 1987
Intergenerational Responsibility
11Sustainability Literacy
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16Teaching for a Positive Future
17Teaching for a Positive Future
- Pilot strategies for infusing Sustainability
Education into Preservice Teacher Education - Professional Development for Faculty, Staff,
Students - Web site http//www.wce.wwu.edu/Resources/TFPF/
- Panel Discussion on Food Security
- Model lesson demonstrations
- Interns Notebook blogs from the field
- College of Education Sustainability Committee
- Linkages with campus and regional efforts
- GUR course work
- Center for Educational Pluralism
- Faculty Research
18OSPI Education forEnvironment and Sustainability
Program and Initiatives
- Connecting Environment, Economy, and
Society/Culture
19OSPI Education for Environment and Sustainability
- The OSPI Education for Environment and
Sustainability program supports academic success
and life-long learning, and develops a
responsible citizenry capable of applying
knowledge of ecological, economic, and
socio-cultural systems to meet current and future
needs.
20OSPI EES Program Goals
- Provide formal and nonformal educators with tools
and resources to be active and effective
professional in the art and science of learning - Increase student knowledge about the environment
and sustainability - Create opportunities for students to make
meaningful connections - Achieve school and community-based collaboration
21EES Program Priorities
22Environmental and Sustainability
EducationLearner Guidelines
- Goals Revise the OSPI Environmental Education
Guidelines for Washington Schools, 2000, to
reflect content area EALRs and GLEs that
specifically address environmental and
sustainability education. - Need/Benefit Provide K-12 student learning
guidelines aligned with content area EALRs and
GLEs for classroom teachers and nonformal
educators. - Legislation WAC 180-50-115 Mandatory areas of
study in the common school requires instruction
about conservation, natural resources, and the
environment be provided at all grade levels in an
interdisciplinary manner.
23EES Professional Development Guidelines
- Goals Merge the NAAEE and OSPI professional
development guidelines (In Action) to create a
set of instructional strategies for ES nonformal
and formal educators that address research-based
best practice teaching and learning strategies. - Need/Benefit Provide guidance and best practice
models for environmental and sustainability
educators. Help teachers, schools, and districts
assess the appropriateness of environmental and
sustainability education programs to ensure the
success of all students. - Legislation EEAW adoption of NAAEE guidelines
includes the intentional alignment with WA State
professional development guidelines.
24Curriculum IntegrationGuidelines, Template, and
Models
- Goals Develop curriculum integration guidelines,
template, and models using the context of natural
science, wildlife, forestry, agriculture,
sustainability, and environmental education. - Need/Benefit Provide tools and models of core
subject area integration for relevant
contextual-based learning opportunities that can
be used by K-12 teachers. - Authorization WAC 180-50-115 Mandatory areas of
study in the common school requires instruction
about conservation, natural resources, and the
environment be provided at all grade levels in an
interdisciplinary manner. - Curriculum integration is a multi-disciplinary,
standards-based approach to teaching, learning,
and assessing that helps all learners develop
deep understanding by making meaningful
connections in real-life contexts.
25Environmental Education Study
- Goals Conduct an environmental education study
to gather existing empirical evidence, highlight
exemplary models, and provide recommendations on
the efficacy of environmental (and
sustainability) education. - Need/Benefit Provide research and data about the
efficacy of environmental education tied to
student achievement and civic engagement. - Legislation HB 2910 requiring study by Oct. 2007.
26Education for SustainabilitySustainable Design
Project
- Goals Develop a statewide K-12 project in which
students, in collaboration with higher education
faculty, develop models of sustainable systems. - Need/Benefit Capture students imagination and
creativity and give them an opportunity to apply
their learning to solve real world challenges. - Legislation WA Learns calls for public private
partnerships to help engage students in math and
science.
27Preservice TeacherEducation Programs
- Goals Work with university teacher education
programs and Teachers of Teachers of Science
(TOTOS) that are incorporating an environmental
and/or sustainability focus. Track the review of
Standard V - Common Core Areas for Teacher Prep
for opportunities to address ES and integration. - Need/Benefit Provide support for ES to teacher
ed programs and preservice teachers. Provide
direction and leadership to national EE
organization on teacher education and ES (New
NCATE standards for EE!!).
28Whats Next?
- WACTE Spring meeting
- e3 Washington Regional meetings
- Washington Learns recommendations for
reconfiguring teacher education in Washington - National policy on licensure and accreditation
will be under review in the next year - UN Decade US Partnership
29Teaching for a Positive Future
30What Will YOU Do Next?
- College mission and vision statements and
conceptual frameworks. - Where can sustainability fit into your teacher
education curriculum? - MANY MANY MANY researchable questions related to
sustainability. - Collaborate in your local community.
- Advocate with policy makers (local and afar).
31Closing
- Thanks for your participation!
- Feedback
- Contact
- Victor Nolet, Associate Professor, WWU
Victor.Nolet_at_wwu.edu - Gilda Wheeler, EES Coordinator, OSPI
gilda.wheeler_at_k12.wa.us