climate change education · climate!change!education!1!teacher!survey!! july 2017 | 3! quotes from...
TRANSCRIPT
Climate Change Education:
Needs, Challenges, and Recommendations
A survey of 221 Alberta teachers
The Alberta Council for Environmental Education
July 2017
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Summary: what teachers said
In June 2017, the Alberta Council for Environmental Education (ACEE) surveyed Alberta teachers regarding their needs and challenges when it comes to including climate change education in their teaching. We received a very robust response to the survey, with a surprising 221 responses from teachers across the province during June, an extremely busy time for them: teachers were both urban and rural, and taught across all grades and subjects. Over 75% of the respondents had over 7 years of teaching experience. The survey asked teachers questions about their classroom needs, their professional learning needs, sources for their professional learning and related barriers, resources they use, and what they thought was needed to enhance climate change education. Teachers rallied around a vision for climate change education that includes helping students create connections with the natural world, and helping students ACT so that they feel they are part of the solution, instead of just learning about the problems. Teachers also strongly agreed that climate change needs to be taught both in science and social studies, and in other subject areas where possible. What would help teachers educate more about climate change in their classrooms? Teachers identified the following, in descending order of priority:
•! Easier!access!to!quality!teaching!resources!(specific!to!Grade!level!and!tied!to!existing!
curriculum)!that!are!current,!factually!defensible!(peer!reviewed),!and!address!the!
concerns!of!climate!skeptics.!
•! Give!teachers!access!and!funding!to!engage!students!in!authentic!learning!experiences!
beyond!the!classroom!that!help!address!climate!change.!
•! Easy!access!to!climate!change!experts!and!classroom!presentations.!
•! Embedding!the!topic!of!climate!change!in!curriculum!across!all!grades!and!subjects.!
•! Support!and!buy!in!at!the!school,!community,!school!board!and!government!levels.!
•! Provide!support!for!professional!learning!opportunities!that!are!low!cost!and!during!work!
hours,!for!example!through!Alberta!Teachers’!Association!(ATA)!conventions!and!
conferences,!workshops!within!school!divisions,!and!workshops!through!the!Alberta!
Regional!Professional!Development!Consortium!(ARPDC).!
•! Increase!teachers’!confidence!in!teaching!the!political/economic!side!of!climate!change.!
Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 3
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Quotes from teachers
“In an oil and gas province, we need a fact-based approach that does not lay blame but seeks solutions.” “Students should be taught climate change throughout K-12, from early grades to high school. It need to be prominently reflected in our new curriculum.”” “It would be great to see schools taking a whole-school approach to teaching about and taking action on climate change. We need divisional and school leadership support to do this, and the professional development and resources to work in an interdisciplinary way. “Students need to be environmentally literate. They need to be immersed in outdoor/environmental education to really connect to climate change discussions.” “We need unbiased materials that explore all the facets of the issues and allow students to make up their own minds after being presented the data.”
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Recommendations
Based on the response of 221 teachers to our survey, we recommend the following. All#groups#and#government#should…#
o! Use!the!following!image!to!demonstrate!that!climate!change!education!is!much!more!than!just!learning!about!the!science!of!climate!change.!!Teachers!and!administrators!support!
this!image!and!what!it!represents.!
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Alberta#Education#should…!
o! Embed!the!topic!of!climate!change!across!all!grades!and!as!many!subjects!as!possible.!o! Ensure!that!these!student!learning!outcomes!are!ageMappropriate!and!allow!students!to!
become!part!of!the!solution!through!wellMinformed!action!projects.!
o! Support!the!Alberta!Regional!Professional!Development!Consortium!in!offering!more!climate!change!education!workshops!for!teachers!across!Alberta!that!are!low!cost!and!
offered!during!work!hours.!
o! Enrich!its!Curriculum!Development!and!Management!Application!with!quality!resources!to!support!climate!change!education.!
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Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 5
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Alberta’s#Climate#Change#Office#should…!
o! Provide!funding!to!develop!climate!change!education!resources!that!support!the!curriculum,!are!current,!are!factually!defensible,!address!the!concerns!of!climate!skeptics,!
and!include!the!political/societal!and!economic!aspects!of!climate!change.!
o! Make!their!staff!available!for!classroom!or!virtual!presentations.!o! Provide!funding!opportunities!for!teachers!to!engage!students!in!authentic!learning!
experiences!related!to!climate!change.!
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Alberta#Teachers’#Association#should…!
o! Ensure!ATA!Conventions!and!Conferences!include!topics!related!to!climate!change!education!–!not!just!the!science!but!the!political/societal!and!economic!decisions!involved!
in!climate!change.!
o! Ensure!the!Global,!Environment!and!Outdoor!Education!Specialist!Council!can!support!teachers!with!workshop!offerings!related!to!climate!change!education.!
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Alberta#School#Boards#Association#and#the#other#school#board#associations#in#Alberta#should…#
o! Demonstrate!support!for!climate!change!education!in!schools!by!sharing!climate!change!resources!and!professional!development!learning!opportunities!for!school!boards.!
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Details: Survey Questions and Teacher Responses Barriers The biggest barriers for teachers is funding to engage students in learning beyond the classroom; having to find resources; and limited quality resources. Teachers identified the following barriers for including climate change education:
•! Have!to!find!my!own!resources!–!51%!
•! Funding!to!engage!students!in!authentic!learning!experiences!–!50%!
•! Limited!quality!education!resources!–!43%!
•! Not!part!of!my!curriculum!–!27%!
•! Parent/community!skepticism!makes!it!harder!to!teach!climate!change!–!22%!
50.2
51.1
42.5
26.9
22.4
15.5
11.4
8.2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
FUNDING!TO!ENGAGE!STUDENTS!IN!AUTHENTIC!…
HAVING!TO!FIND!MY!OWN!RESOURCES
LIMITED!QUALITY!EDUCATION!RESOURCES
NOT!PART!OF!MY!CURRICULUM
PARENTS/COMMUNITY!SKEPTICISM
NOT!CONFIDENT!IN!TEACHING!…
NOT!CONFIDENT!IN!TEACHING!THE!SCIENCE!…
TEACHER/ADMINISTRATORS!SKEPTICISM
Most#significant#barriers#for#including#climate#change#education
Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 7
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Statements about climate change education and teacher professional learning
Teachers were asked to rank several statements regarding climate change education and their need for teacher professional learning on this topic.
140
169
139
154
104
59
39
54
47
86
13
3
17
10
25
7
7
7
6
3
0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
CLIMATE!CHANGE!NEEDS!TO!TAUGHT!BOTH!IN!SCIENCE!
AND!SOCIAL!STUDIES!(POLITICS/ECONOMICS)
HELPING!STUDENTS!CREATE!CONNECTIONS!WITH!THE!
NATURAL!WORLD!IS!AN!IMPORTANT!PART!OF!CLIMATE!
CHANGE!EDUCATION
ANY!ENVIRONMENTAL!ACTIONS!STUDENTS!TAKE!ON!HELP!
THEM!BE!CLIMATE!LEADERS.
STUDENTS!TAKING!ACTION!HELPS!THEM!BE!PART!OF!THE!
SOLUTION!INSTEAD!OF!JUST!LEARNING!ABOUT!THE!
PROBLEMS.
MORE!TEACHER!PROFESSIONAL!LEARNING!FOR!CLIMATE!
CHANGE!EDUCATION!IS!NEEDED.
Teacher#response#to#the#following#statements:
Strongly!Disagree Somewhat!Agree Agree Strongly!Agree
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What would help teachers the most to include climate change education in their teaching?
•! Over!74%!indicated!that!opportunities!for!experiential!learning!beyond!the!classroom!
would!be!the!most!useful.!
•! Over!65%!indicated!curriculum!and!grade!specific!resources!from!external!organizations!
would!be!beneficial.!
•! Over!48%!indicated!access!to!climate!change!experts!as!being!beneficial.!
65.1
74.8
48.2
37.6
23.4
42.7
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
CURRICULUM!AND!GRADE!SPECIFIC!…
OPPORTUNITIES!FOR!LEARNING!BEYOND!THE!…
ACCESS!TO!CLIMATE!CHANGE!EXPERTS
VIDEOS/POWER!POINT!PRESENTATIONS
APPROACHES!FOR!TEACHING!CONTROVERSIAL!…
CLASSROOM!PRESENTATIONS!FROM!GROUPS
What#would#help#teachers#the#most#to#include#climate#change#education?
Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 9
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Type of professional learning that would be most beneficial to enhance climate change education
•! Sessions!at!ATA!conventions!–!over!60%!
•! Workshops!with!school!divisions!–!over!46%!
•! Offering!through!ATA’s!professional!learning!–!over!41%!
•! Workshops!webinars!with!Alberta!Regional!Professional!Learning!Consortium!–!over!39%!
60.4
46.1
41.9
39.2
12.9
10.1
7.8
14
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70
SESSION!AT!ATA!CONVENTIONS!OR!SPECIALIST!…
A!WORKSHOP!OFFERED!WITH!OUR!SCHOOL!…
AN!OFFERING!THROUGH!ATA'S!PROFESSIONAL!…
WORKSHOPS/WEBINARS!WITH!THE!ARPDC
WEBINARS!WITH!WORLD!CLIMATE!LEADERS
REGIONAL!WORKSHOPS!AFTER!SCHOOL!OR!ON!!…
WEBINARS!AFTER!SCHOOL!OR!ON!WEEKENDS
OTHER
Type#of#professional#learning#that#would#be#most#beneficial#for#teachers
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Biggest barriers for teachers participating in professional learning opportunities
The biggest barriers for teachers are having to do it on their own time and cost of PD sessions. •! Over!65%!indicated!doing!it!on!their!own!time!was!a!very!big!or!big!barrier.!
•! 60%!indicated!that!cost!of!PD!sessions!(lack!of!funds)!was!a!very!big!or!big!barrier.!
•! !
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Trusted sources for teacher professional learning •! Colleagues!were!rated!the!highest!at!over!60%!
67
23
48
61
73
54
53
69
58
100
78
65
18
37
35
20
0 20 40 60 80 100 120
I!HAVE!TO!DO!IT!ON!MY!OWN!TIME
LOCATION!OF!SESSIONS!(NOTHING!CLOSE!TO!ME)
NO!SUPPORT!FOR!TEACHER!RELEASE!TO!ATTEND
COST!OF!PD!SESSIONS!(LACK!OF!FUNDS)
Barriers#for#teachers#participating#in#professional#learning
Not!a!barrier!at!all Somewhat!of!a!barrier Big!barrier Very!big!barrier
39.4 46.328.9
60.648.2
26.141.7
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
Trusted#sources#for#seeking#professional#learning#opportunities
Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 11
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Open ended question: What is the most important thing needed for enhancing climate change education?
The responses were reviewed and some common themes emerged. The responses were coded into the categories below. The top four categories are: resources; authentic, experiential, hands-on learning; embedded in curriculum; and buy in and support. See Appendix A for all responses. !
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3813 7 28
5847
9 11 2
Most#important#thing#needed#for#enhancing#climate#change#
education
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Open-ended question: What are some of your ‘go to’ resources for teaching climate change? The responses were reviewed and some common themes emerged. The responses were coded into the categories below. The top resource teachers use is the Internet followed by use of news, media and videos. Twenty teachers indicated that they don’t have any resources they are currently using. Some of the top non-government organizations were Inside Education, David Suzuki Foundation, and Alberta Council for Environmental Education. Several teachers indicated they’ve created their own resources. See Appendix B for all responses.
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56
44
8 5 8 7
2013 10 7 8 12 5
20
Teachers#'go#to'#resources#for#teaching#climate#change
Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 13
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What are your approaches for teaching climate change? Sharing information is the most used approach for teaching climate change followed by involving students in action projects, sharing multiple perspectives, and student research and presentations.
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67.6
72.7
65.7
61.6
51.4
21.8
45.8
SHARING!INFORMATION!ABOUT!
GLOBAL!WARMING/GREENHOUSE!…
SHARING!INFORMATION!ABOUT!THE!
IMPACTS!OF!CLIMATE!CHANGE
SHARING!INFORMATION!ABOUT!THE!
SOLUTIONS!NEEDED!TO!REDUCE!…
INVOLVING!STUDENTS!IN!ACTION!
PROJECTS!TO!REDUCE!THEIR!…
SHARING!MUTLIPLE!PERSPECTIVES!
ABOUT!CLIMATE!CHANGE
ROLE!PLAYING/DEBATES
STUDENT!RESEARCH!AND!
PRESENTATIONS!ON!VARIOUS!…
Approaches#used#for#teaching#climate#change
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Demographics
Region:
Urban and Rural School Breakdown:
14%
35%51%
Where#do#you#teach?
Southern!Alberta
Central!Alberta
Northern!Alberta
69%
31%
Urban#and#Rural#Breakdown
Urban
Rural
Climate!Change!Education!1!Teacher!Survey!
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July 2017 | 15
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Number of years teaching experience:
Grades Taught:
47%
14%
18%
12%9%
Number#of#years#teaching#experience
13+!years
10!to!13!years
7!to!10!years
4!to!6!years
0!to!3!years
13.717.417.4
19.621.5
19.621.9
25.628.3
30.632.432
29.2
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
KINDERGARTEN
GRADE!1
GRADE!2
GRADE!3
GRADE!4
GRADE!5
GRADE!6
GRADE!7
GRADE!8
GRADE!9
GRADE!10
GRADE!11
GRADE!12
Grades#taught
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Subjects Taught:
•! Most!teachers!were!science!teachers!and!elementary!teachers!that!taught!all!subjects.!
•! Over!22%!worked!with!an!environment!or!sustainability!club.!
•! CTF/CTS!and!Social!Studies!were!in!the!20%!range.!
•! Other!included!a!wide!variety!of!responses!including!math,!physical!education,!outdoor!
education,!language!arts,!special!education,!and!health.!
25%
11%
14%14%
29%
7%
Subjects#Taught
Science
Social!Studies
CTF/CTS
ExtraMcurricular
All!(elementary)
Other