Teaching for a Positive Future: Education for Sustainability in the Preservice Preparation of Teache

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Teaching 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
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Agenda

• 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?

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International 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

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WA 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
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WA 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
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Washington 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.

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What does Sustainability mean?
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• Environment
• Economy
• Society/Culture

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• How are they interconnected?

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Making 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
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Sustainability Literacy
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Teaching for a Positive Future
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Teaching 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

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OSPI Education forEnvironment and Sustainability
Program and Initiatives

• Connecting Environment, Economy, and
  Society/Culture

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OSPI 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.

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OSPI 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

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EES Program Priorities
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Environmental 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.

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EES 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.

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Curriculum 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.

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Environmental 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.

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Education 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.

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Preservice 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!!).

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Whats 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

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Teaching for a Positive Future
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What 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).

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Closing

• 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