EED2601
SEMESTER 1
ASSIGNMENT 01
, EED2601
ASSIGNMENT 01
SEMESTER 1
DUE DATE: 03 May 2024
, 1.1) In your understanding, define environmental education?
Environmental education can be defined as a lifelong learning process that aims to cultivate environmental
literacy, awareness, values, and skills among individuals and communities. It encompasses formal, non-formal,
and informal educational activities that deepen understanding of the natural world, its interconnected
systems, and human impacts on the environment.
1.2) Explain why environmental education is considered an emerging field with fuzzy
boundaries.
Interdisciplinary Nature: Environmental education draws from various disciplines such as
ecology, sociology, psychology, economics, political science, and education. As a result, its
boundaries are inherently blurred, as it integrates knowledge and perspectives from multiple fields.
This interdisciplinary nature allows for a diverse range of approaches and interpretations, contributing
to the fuzziness of its boundaries.
Evolving Understanding of Environmental Issues:Environmental challenges are complex
and continually evolving. As our understanding of environmental issues deepens and new challenges
emerge, the scope of environmental education expands accordingly. This dynamic nature leads to
ongoing debates and reinterpretations of its focus areas and priorities.
Diverse Educational Settings:Environmental education takes place in diverse settings beyond
traditional classrooms, including outdoor education programs, nature centers, community
organizations, and online platforms. The variety of educational settings and approaches further
contributes to the fluidity of its boundaries, as each context may emphasize different aspects of
environmental learning.
1.3) Why is it important for teachers in environmental education to teach learners
about the different notions of environmental education history and how they
influence us? Give examples.
Teaching learners about the different notions of environmental education history is crucial for several
reasons:
Understanding Context: Learning about the historical development of environmental education
helps students understand the context in which current environmental issues and educational
approaches have emerged. For example, understanding how environmental education evolved from
early conservation efforts to more holistic and interdisciplinary approaches provides students with a
broader perspective on the field.
Identifying Patterns and Trends: Studying the history of environmental education allows students to
identify patterns and trends in societal attitudes and approaches to environmental issues. For
instance, they may learn how environmental education has shifted from a focus solely on
conservation to encompassing concepts like sustainability and environmental justice.
Learning from Past Mistakes and Successes: By examining past approaches to environmental
education, students can learn from both the successes and failures of previous initiatives. For
example, they can analyze why certain environmental education programs were effective in raising
awareness and inspiring action while others were not.
Cultural and Social Influences: Exploring the history of environmental education helps students
recognize the cultural and social influences that have shaped our understanding of the environment
and our relationship with it. For instance, they can examine how different cultural perspectives have
influenced environmental education practices around the world.
Inspiring Critical Thinking and Reflection: Studying the history of environmental education
encourages students to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions about the environment.
For example, they may question why certain environmental perspectives or approaches gained
prominence at particular points in history and whether these perspectives are still relevant today.
SEMESTER 1
ASSIGNMENT 01
, EED2601
ASSIGNMENT 01
SEMESTER 1
DUE DATE: 03 May 2024
, 1.1) In your understanding, define environmental education?
Environmental education can be defined as a lifelong learning process that aims to cultivate environmental
literacy, awareness, values, and skills among individuals and communities. It encompasses formal, non-formal,
and informal educational activities that deepen understanding of the natural world, its interconnected
systems, and human impacts on the environment.
1.2) Explain why environmental education is considered an emerging field with fuzzy
boundaries.
Interdisciplinary Nature: Environmental education draws from various disciplines such as
ecology, sociology, psychology, economics, political science, and education. As a result, its
boundaries are inherently blurred, as it integrates knowledge and perspectives from multiple fields.
This interdisciplinary nature allows for a diverse range of approaches and interpretations, contributing
to the fuzziness of its boundaries.
Evolving Understanding of Environmental Issues:Environmental challenges are complex
and continually evolving. As our understanding of environmental issues deepens and new challenges
emerge, the scope of environmental education expands accordingly. This dynamic nature leads to
ongoing debates and reinterpretations of its focus areas and priorities.
Diverse Educational Settings:Environmental education takes place in diverse settings beyond
traditional classrooms, including outdoor education programs, nature centers, community
organizations, and online platforms. The variety of educational settings and approaches further
contributes to the fluidity of its boundaries, as each context may emphasize different aspects of
environmental learning.
1.3) Why is it important for teachers in environmental education to teach learners
about the different notions of environmental education history and how they
influence us? Give examples.
Teaching learners about the different notions of environmental education history is crucial for several
reasons:
Understanding Context: Learning about the historical development of environmental education
helps students understand the context in which current environmental issues and educational
approaches have emerged. For example, understanding how environmental education evolved from
early conservation efforts to more holistic and interdisciplinary approaches provides students with a
broader perspective on the field.
Identifying Patterns and Trends: Studying the history of environmental education allows students to
identify patterns and trends in societal attitudes and approaches to environmental issues. For
instance, they may learn how environmental education has shifted from a focus solely on
conservation to encompassing concepts like sustainability and environmental justice.
Learning from Past Mistakes and Successes: By examining past approaches to environmental
education, students can learn from both the successes and failures of previous initiatives. For
example, they can analyze why certain environmental education programs were effective in raising
awareness and inspiring action while others were not.
Cultural and Social Influences: Exploring the history of environmental education helps students
recognize the cultural and social influences that have shaped our understanding of the environment
and our relationship with it. For instance, they can examine how different cultural perspectives have
influenced environmental education practices around the world.
Inspiring Critical Thinking and Reflection: Studying the history of environmental education
encourages students to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions about the environment.
For example, they may question why certain environmental perspectives or approaches gained
prominence at particular points in history and whether these perspectives are still relevant today.
