what you said you wanted…

About ACEE, and theory pertaining to curriculum February 2009

How to Move Learners to Action

Gareth ThomsonAlberta Council for Environmental [email protected]; 403-678-0079

1What you said you wantedAs an informal educator and having at most a couple hours with people, spurring people onto action is hard, but is one of the reasons I got into environmental education. So, ideas to move programs from awareness to action for informal educators (park interps, etc) appreciated. Effective ways/activities to engage youth in environmental presentations various techniques to get different specific learner age groups to take action How can we engage learners in a pilot project to encourage a successful outcome? Gather information that can be applied to the School Programs at the Calgary Zoo. How follow up with teachers as to whether they took on action initiatives. Are there liability issues involved with follow up with individual students, how can these be mitigated? I am most interested in learning how to identify, narrow down and focus on key actionsGreater understanding of research/profiles of strategies/approaches that lead to action! A chance to learn new ways to implement EE in schools Tools for measuring success of environmental programs, and monitor long term benefits I'm developing programs for elementary schools about local wildlife and species at risk, and would like to engage more colleagues to help (move into action!)2Support for more emphasis on action3ACEE Polls: 2009 (adults); 2010 (youth)

http://abcee.org/about-us/pollingWhat do you PREDICT Albertans answered to the following questions?A: What % of Albertans answered confident or very confident to the following:

Q8.How confident are you that your personal actions to protect the environment actually make a difference? Would you say very confident, somewhat confident, not very confident or not at all confident?

5What do you PREDICT Albertans answered to the following questions?B. What % of Albertans disagreed with the following:Schools in Alberta should give top priority to providing students with opportunities to do environmental action projects.

6What do you PREDICT Albertans answered to the following questions?C: What % of Albertans gave a 4 or 5 when asked the following:Q13: To what degree do you feel you actually DO the following? Please use a five-point scale where 1 means you dont do it at all and 5 means you do it as much as you possibly can. Reduce water consumption in and around your home Write an effective letter to the editor about an environmental issue

7What do you PREDICT Albertans answered to the following questions?A: What % of Albertans answered confidentor very confident to the following: Q8.How confident are you that your personal actions to protect the environment actually make a difference? Would you say very confident, somewhat confident, not very confident or not at all confident? ---> 80%

B: What % of Albertans disagreed with the following:Schools in Alberta should give top priority to providing students with opportunities to do environmental action projects. ---> Just 8%C: What % of Albertans gave a 4 or 5 when asked the following:Q13: To what degree do you feel you actually DO the following? Please use a five-point scale where 1 means you dont do it at all and 5 means you do it as much as you possibly can. Reduce water consumption in and around your home ---> 65% Write an effective letter to the editor about an environmental issue ---> 9%

8Why should we move learners to action?

Why should we move learners to action?Some reasons

David Orr said: Hope is a verb with its sleeves rolled up; taking meaningful action provides an antidote to hopelessnessAction is about meaning, and engaging in meaningful acts is motivationalAction requires active citizenship and society likes citizenship!Environmental action helps the planetWithout action, environmental education is just talking, talking, talking. (Dr. Wangari Maathai)What moves learners to action?Awareness?11What are the essential elements of an excellent EE program?Awareness?Understanding?12What are the essential elements of an excellent EE program?Awareness?Understanding?Critical thinking skills?13What are the essential elements of an excellent EE program?Awareness?Understanding?Critical thinking skills?Training about action skills?14What are the essential elements of an excellent EE program?Awareness?Understanding?Critical thinking skills?Training about action skills?Opportunities for personal action?15What are the essential elements of an excellent EE program?Awareness?Understanding?Critical thinking skills?Training about action skills?Opportunities for personal action?Opportunities for public action?16We walk with giants.Men rise and fall like the winter wheat, but these names will never die. Let them say I lived in the time of Hector, tamer of horses. Let them say I lived in the time of Achilles

If they ever tell my story let them say that I walked with giants.

- Odysseus

17My approach re: current research on ActionDo not try to satisfy your vanity byteaching a great many things. Awaken peoples curiosity. It is enough toopen minds; do not overload them.Just put there a spark. If there issome good inflammable stuff, itwill catch fire.- Anatole France 18On-line: Educating for Action (Bill Hammond, Green Teacher)

19On-line: Educating for Action (Bill Hammond, Green Teacher)

20Behavioral & Environmental ChangeIssues Investigation - Hungerford & VolkEnvironmental Literacy - Roth & DisingerLearning About Action21Community Problem-Solving - StappSocial Learning - WalsEarth Education - Van MatreEcological Education - Caduto, GoughBioregional & Place-based Education - Smith & Williams

Learning Through Action22Community Action Research - Hammond, Wals & Stapp, RobottomAction Competence - Jensen & SchnackSustainability Education - Fien, Huckle, SterlingLearning From Action23Knowledge --> awareness --> behaviourDEBUNKED!How do learners get to responsible environmental behaviours?24How do learners get to responsible environmental behaviours?Key variables:Environmental sensitivityKnowledge of action strategiesSkill in using action strategiesIndividual and group locus of controlFrom Predictors of Responsible Environmental Behaviour: A Review. Marcinkowski, 199125How do learners get to responsible environmental behaviours?

26Different levels of action

Level I: Environmental Sensitivity, and Ecological FoundationsLevel II: Conceptual awareness of issues and valuesLevel III: the Investigation and Evaluation levelLevel IV: Action skills level - training and application

From Curriculum Development in Environmental Education for the Primary School. Hungerford and Volk, 1991.Q: Which of these levels should be emphasized for a Grade 3 student?


Q: Which of these levels should be emphasized for an ADULT learner?


Progression

Work of Tanner, Chawla, Palmer

Emphasize the importance of early experiences in creating environmental sensitivity: children should spend time in nature, in the company of a trusted adultenvironmental leaders tend to have had these powerful experiences

Role of modeling

At the 2010 Symposium Creating a Legacy Together: Glyn Hughes, Dustin Saxton, Sabrina Niesman32Norms

Norms are the demonstration of what society expects citizens to do. Social norms can facilitate pro-environmental behaviorWhat are our societys environmental norms?What should our norms be?How can we create norms in a school?

Teacher activity guide for ACTION34Leap into Action - OUTLINESection 1: Background on Action Education

Why Do Action Education? What Motivates People to Take ActionThe Teachers Role in an Action Project Action for All Ages Action Project Trouble-shooting Tips Teaching Controversial Issues: A Framework for Educators Evaluating Action Projects: Ways to Measure Success

35Leap into Action - OUTLINESection 2: Student Action Activities (Step by Step Project Planning)

Activity 1: Action Projects Gallery Activity 2: Get On The Case Activity 3: Lets Choose Our Issue! Activity 4: Issue Detectives! Activity 5: Goals, Teams and Maps! Activity 6: Reflecting on Action: Swimming UpstreamActivity 7: Reflecting on Action: How Are You Doing?

36Leap into Action - OUTLINESection 3: Action Project Tool Kit (Skills building)Action Sheet 1: Write a Letter! Action Sheet 2: Pick Up the Phone Action Sheet 3: Build Support with a PetitionAction Sheet 4: Just Ask! Do a Survey Action Sheet 5: Use the Media Action Sheet 6: Fund Raising Action Projects Action Sheet 7: Annual Environmental Celebrations

Section 4 (Student): Case Studies 1 - Bow Valley Wildlife Crossing

37Moving learners to action is not straightforward but it is necessary!As educators, we cancreate opportunities for actionmodel actions we value and talk about them with othersencourage gaining knowledge teach skills for effective actionencourage emotional connections to naturehelp people develop intrinsic motivationexpect action through expressed norms and creating a culture of stewardship and citizenshipThanks to our Sponsor!

Some relevant on-line resourcesAction Education resources:

http://www.abcee.org/actioneducation/ Some relevant on-line resourcesHow to Evaluate the success of your EE program AND two relevant presentations by Rick Kool:

http://www.abcee.org/resource-centre/resources-for-ee-professionals/

What you said you wantedAs an informal educator and having at most a couple hours with people, spurring people onto action is hard, but is one of the reasons I got into environmental education. So, ideas to move programs from awareness to action for informal educators (park interps, etc) appreciated. Effective ways/activities to engage youth in environmental presentations various techniques to get different specific learner age groups to take action How can we engage learners in a pilot project to encourage a successful outcome? Gather information that can be applied to the School Programs at the Calgary Zoo. How follow up with teachers as to whether they took on action initiatives. Are there liability issues involved with follow up with individual students, how can these be mitigated? I am most interested in learning how to identify, narrow down and focus on key actionsGreater understanding of research/profiles of strategies/approaches that lead to action! A chance to learn new ways to implement EE in schools Tools for measuring success of environmental programs, and monitor long term benefits I'm developing programs for elementary schools about local wildlife and species at risk, and would like to engage more colleagues to help (move into action!)42

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