Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Social and environmental education'
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SOUZA, ROOSEVELT FIDELES DE. "AN EXPERIENCE ON ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION: BUILDING SOCIAL-ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2003. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=4302@1.
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Este estudo teve como motivação inicial a experiência
profissional do autor,como educador e geógrafo, atuando
na
iniciativa denominada Projeto de Educação Ambiental com
Crianças de Escolas públicas, que vem sendo realizada no
campus da Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de
Janeiro desde 1998. Este projeto foi desenvolvido pelo
Núcleo Interdisciplinar de Meio Ambiente - NIMA/PUC-Rio,
com o objetivo de integrar as escolas públicas com a
Universidade, através de aulas de Educação Ambiental,
tendo
como meta a formação de valores ético-ambientais para o
exercício da cidadania das futuras gerações. Baseado
nesta
experiência de projeto social, que visa atender às
crianças
mais carentes que estudam nas escolas públicas no
bairro da Gávea e moradoras das comunidades carentes da
Rocinha, Vidigal, Parque da Cidade e Cruzada São
Sebastião,
localizadas próximas ao campus da PUC-Rio, são
apresentadas aqui as reflexões e potencialidades de
transformação social do Projeto de
Educação Ambiental com Crianças de Escolas Públicas.
A análise deste Projeto, enquanto um modelo que visa
responder aos atuais apelos da recente Lei Federal de
Educação Ambiental e da Lei Estadual, sobretudo no
que se refere a sua dimensão não-formal, constitui o
escopo
desta dissertação. Em outras palavras, este trabalho
avalia
as ações e práticas educativas voltadas para a
sensibilização da coletividade sobre as questões
ambientais, com a participação e parceria de escolas,
Universidade e empresas, e das transformações processadas
com valores éticos presentes na relação do homem com o
seu
meio ambiente, através de um projeto de Educação
Ambiental,
realizado junto às crianças e adolescentes estudantes da
rede pública de educação no Estado do Rio de Janeiro.This research was motivated by the author s professional experience, as a Geography teacher, working as a member of the team responsible for the Project of Environmental Education for Public School Children, which has been taking place within the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro campus since 1998. This project was developed by the Interdisciplinary Center for the Environment - NIMA/PUC-Rio to promote the integration of the public schools with the university,throughout Environmental Education classes. The goal of the project is to develop ethical-environmental values for the exercise of future generations citizenship. The purpose of this initiative is to serve the poor children, who attend classes of the public schools of Gávea, Rocinha, Vidigal, Parque da Cidade e Cruzada de São Sebastião neighborhoods, located near by PUC- Rio campus. Based on this experience, the author describes the perspectives for social change of the Project of Environmental Education for Public School Children. The core subject of this dissertation is an analysis of this project, taken as a model response to the determinations of the recent Federal and State Laws for environmental education, with emphasis on non-formal education. In other words, this essay describes the educational actions and practices designed to wake up collective sensibility towards environmental issues, relying on the partner ship established by schools with universities and companies. This dissertation is concerned with the ethical valves which comes out of the relation ship between mankind and its surrounding nature and the transformations that can be accomplished by an Environmental Education Project such as this one offered to the children of the public education system of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
2
Lacey, Jacqueline Marie. "Teaching social skills through environmental education." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2000. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/1765.
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This project was designed to address the need for a curriculum that links environmental education and social skills. All of the social skills units were created to improve the students' understanding of social skills and important environmental concepts.
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RIBEIRO, LUCIANA MELLO. "THE ROLE OF SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2003. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=4292@1.
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COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DO PESSOAL DE ENSINO SUPERIORA pesquisa buscou identificar as representações de ambiente, educação e informação que mobilizam a prática de educadores e jornalistas ambientais e a forma como isso ocorre. Procurou-se entender como se constituem tais representações e que relação guarda o processo de construção destas com aspectos da vida, como a família, a formação para o trabalho e o exercício profissional. Os dados foram colhidos através de entrevistas semi- estruturadas, havendo questões em comum e outras específicas a cada uma das profissões. Para a interpretação, utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo. Entender como se estruturam as representações destes profissionais contribui para pensar possíveis estratégias para a formação continuada, destinadas a qualificar a educação ambiental e o ecojornalismo. A percepção, os valores e a experiência foram componentes significativos para desvendar o caminho das representações.
The research had the scope of identifying the environment, education and information representations, which mobilize the practice of educators and newspapermen and how it occurs. We have tried to understand how such representations are created and what relationship the process of construction of these has with aspects of life, as the family, the formation for work and the professional practice. The data have been gathered by means of semi- structured interviews, having questions in common and other ones specific to each of the professions. As regards interpretation the content analysis has been used. Understanding how the representations of these professionals are structured contributes to think possible strategies for continued formation with the purpose of qualifying the environmental education and ecojournalism. The perception, values and the experience were significant components to unveil the path of representations.
4
Price, Leigh. "A transdisciplinary explanatory critique of environmental education." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2007. http://eprints.ru.ac.za/909/.
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Whelan, James M., and n/a. "Education and Training For Effective Environmental Advocacy." Griffith University. Australian School of Environmental Studies, 2002. http://www4.gu.edu.au:8080/adt-root/public/adt-QGU20040526.140105.
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Research on environmental advocacy has tended to focus on outcomes and achievements rather than the processes through which these are achieved. In addition, minimal research has attended in detail to the complexity of environmental advocacy, or explored measures to through which to enhance advocates prospects of success. The environment movement itself has given scarce attention to promoting the skills, abilities and predispositions that contribute to effective advocacy. Indeed, most environmental non-government organisations (ENGOs) in Australia appear to believe that scientific or expert knowledge will be sufficient to influence environmental decision-makers and consequently provide minimal training or education to enhance advocacy. This thesis is a response to these problems. It seeks to develop an understanding of, and model for, activist education and training in the Australian environment movement. The two main bodies of literature that inform the study are social movement and adult education literature. The former provides the context for the study. Social movement theorists present various explanations of how and why environmental activists work for change. These theorists also discuss the organisational structures and modes of operation typically adopted by activists. The second body of literature is utilised in this thesis to provide a synthesis of relevant educational orientations, traditions and practices. Popular, experiential and adult environmental education offer promising strategies for advocacy organisations that seek to enhance activists skills and abilities. The research questions posed in this study lie at the convergence of these two bodies of literature. Two empirical studies were undertaken during this inquiry. The first was conducted with the Queensland Conservation Council, an environmental advocacy organisation where the researcher was employed for five years. The study drew on methods and techniques associated with ethnography and action research to identify, implement and evaluate a range of interventions which aimed to educate and train advocates. Three cycles of inquiry generated useful insights into environmental advocacy and identified useful strategies through which advocacy may be enhanced. The second study, a case study based on interviews and observation, explored the Heart Politics movement. The ethnographic research methods utilised in this case study resulted in a rich description and critical appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of Heart Politics gatherings as activist education. These two studies contributed to the development of a grounded and endogenous theory of education and training for environmental advocacy. This theory is based on a set of observations concerning the provision of activist education: (1) that most activist learning occurs informally and unintentionally through participation in social action such as environmental campaigns; (2) that this learning can be assessed according to a five-category framework and tends to favour specific categories including the development of social action and organisational development skills rather than alternative categories such as political analysis and personal development; (3) that this informal learning can be harnessed and enhanced through strategies which situate learning in the context of action and promote heightened awareness of the learning dimension of social action; and (4) that a key obstacle to education and training in the environment movement is a conspicuous lack of professional development or support for the people involved in facilitating and coordinating activist education activities and programs. These people are often volunteers and infrequently possess qualifications as educators or facilitators but are more likely to be seasoned activists. They tend to work in isolation as activist education activities are sporadic, geographically diffuse and ad hoc. These observations along with other insights acquired through participatory action research and ethnographic inquiry led to a set of conclusions, some of which have already been implemented or initiated during the course of this study. The first conclusion is that strategies to promote the professional development of activist educators may benefit from the development of texts tailored to the tactical orientations and political and other circumstances of Australian environmental advocacy groups. Texts, alone, are considered an inadequate response. The study also concludes that informal networks, formal and informal courses and other strategies to assist collaboration and peer learning among activist educators offer considerable benefits. Other conclusions pertain to the benefits of collaborating with adult educators and tertiary institutions, and professionals, to the relative merits of activist workshops and other forms of delivery, to the opportunities for activist training presented by regular environment movement gatherings and conferences and to the significant merits of promoting and supporting mentorship relationships between novice and experienced activists.
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Westbrook, Johnnie Ray. "Enhancing Limited-Resource Farmers' Economic, Environmental, and Social Outcomes Through Extension Education." Diss., Virginia Tech, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/39743.
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This research examined how the North Carolina A & T State University Cooperative Extension program has helped limited-resource farmers realize economic, environmental, and social outcomes through its 1890 Extension education program. Since1990, there has been little research on recent contributions of 1890 Extension programs for this audience. This inquiry described educational collaborative efforts among the North Carolina A & T Extension program, North Carolina State University (NCSU), other 1862 land-grant universities, community-based organizations, and government agencies providing nonformal education and services to limited-resource farmers. Personal interviews were conducted with two Extension specialists, one associate, two agents, and two agricultural and natural resource technicians. A focus group was conducted with nine limited-resource farmers.The findings revealed that the Farmers Adopting Computer Training (FACT), Plasticulture, and Pastured-Swine programs have helped enhance limited-resource farmers' economic, environmental, and social outcomes. In addition, the participants confirmed caring, trust, and relationship building as qualities that encouraged their participation. However, participants indicated that scheduling Extension programs that conflict with planting and harvesting season and programs that do not address farmers' needs and issues prevent their participation in Extension programs. Furthermore, North Carolina A & T Extension programs involved farmers in program planning through advisory committees and mentoring other farmers. Participants indicated that NC A & T collaborates with North Carolina State University, community-based organizations, and other government agencies to meet the needs of limited-resource farmers.The data suggest that the following improvements and changes for the North Carolina A & T Extension program: (a) use the outcome-based evaluation approach to evaluate Extension programs, (b) provide training for Extension faculty on program planning models, (c) continue the FACT, plasticulture, and pastured-swine production programs, (d) educate faculty in other schools and colleges at NC A & T State University about Extension programs, and (e) develop joint programs with other schools and colleges at North Carolina A & T State University.Ph. D.
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Tlebere, Thabo Eugene. "A model for supporting environmental awereness in higher education using social media." Thesis, Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/10948/d1020820.
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University sustainability is a field of research that has been gaining increased interest in recent years. The reduction of environmental impact has become a strategic objective of universities globally. Universities have been prompted to take necessary action to ensure that their environmental impact is at a minimum. The environmental component of sustainability deals with the current conservation of the earth’s natural resources so that future generations can also have access to them. Human beings, due to their increasing needs, are accountable for the exploitation of natural resources. They are regarded as the main contributors to imbalances in the natural systems. Environmental concerns such as global warming, deforestations, disposal of wastes, and ozone reduction are the outcomes of the damage caused by humans on the environment. The aim of environmental education is to acquire remediation of the environment by making individuals aware of the environment and by educating them about how to live a more sustainable lifestyle. Environmental awareness is perceived as knowledge of the factors that affect the environment and having sensitivity towards the environment. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) bear the responsibility of educating individuals about environmental issues since they provide education to future leaders in society who may have an influence on future conditions in the environment. Social media are capable of delivering information to a large spectrum of audiences at a low cost. The Pew Internet American Life Project reported that the number of adults who utilise social media has increased by 57 percent from 2005 to 2011. Several environmental activist organisations utilise social media to carry out environmental awareness campaigns. In this study two environmental awareness campaigns which were powered by social media were conducted to improve environmental awareness of individuals in a higher education environment. A Social media Model for ENvironmental Awareness (SMENA) was developed to facilitate the environmental awareness campaigns. The SMENA includes a website, social media as well as theoretical guidelines for creating environmental awareness campaigns, and for using social media for environmental awareness campaigns. A case study at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) was used to empirically evaluate SMENA. Students at the Department of Computer Sciences of NMMU were exposed to information about environmental issues through social media with the intention of improving their environmental knowledge and awareness. The SMENA website usability was rated positively and students enjoyed the blogs and information distributed by means of social media. The results of the study intervention were positive and showed that social media can be used to improve the environmental knowledge of students. This study provides a valuable contribution to both the field of environmental education and social media usage and acceptance. The guidelines and requirements for using social media to improve environmental awareness provided in this study can be used to assist educators and university management with addressing the problems of reducing environmental impact.
8
Law, Man-suet Michelle, and 羅文雪. "Achieving corporate sustainability through environmental education and training." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10722/206704.
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Education and training are recognized as the crux of developing green organizational cultures in the achievement of corporate sustainability. Should ecology training be linked with the practical work of corporate members? Should they “learn by doing” or “do by learning”? The present study covered the links between environmental education and training and its success in greening the employees and corporate cultures. It investigated the effectiveness of environmental training and models a suitable training approach in developing environmentally aware corporate cultures. The study first revealed the drivers and challenges of implementing environmental education and training in managerial perception. 13 environmental managers of sustainability leading corporations and governmental departments in Hong Kong were surveyed by either face-to-face interviews or mailed questionnaires survey.
The role of environmental education and training in raising employees’ awareness toward a more sustainable manner has been fully recognized by the surveyed mangers. However, engaging employees in environmental learning was found to be the single biggest challenge among the managers. Managers have faced a dilemma when designing training content and training approaches. A wide range of rationales and determining factors were identified in the study. They were employee interests and motivation, training practicability and applicability, justification of resources and continuity of training impacts.
A series of environmental education and awareness training programmes of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) were used as a case study. Evaluation of the training outcomes, in terms of changes in participants’ environmental knowledge, attitudes and behaviour, was surveyed by using self-completion questionnaires with retrospective post- and then-test design. Across the 47 responses, the results show that employees gained knowledge and changed their values and behaviour towards the environment significantly. The acquisition of knowledge and attitude change leads to the development of green behaviour both in the workplace and at home.
Training design and approach, relevance and applicability of training content were found to have the greatest impact on the training outcomes. A combination of direct- and indirect- experiences in the training is also essential as the employees have direct contact with nature for affective-based attitudes while a proportion of indirect experience training is responsible for intellectual development. Training should be available for employees from each stratum in the company rather than only focusing on pinpointed management staff since it could promote a workable interface between employees and the corporation. Furthermore, organizational support including supervisory and peer support is vital to the training outcomes by encouraging employees to perform pro-environmental behaviour at work, in turn, greening the corporate culture. This study brings to the conclusion that, even though transition of sustainable corporate culture is a long process, it could be achievable in real-life businesses through utilizing an effective environmental education and training with properly designed strategies.published_or_final_version
Kadoorie Institute
Master
Master of Philosophy
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Lui, Chun-yin. "A study of the whole school approach towards environmental education." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1995. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B14038699.
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Blum, Andrea. "The social shaping of environmental education policy and practice in Monteverde, Costa Rica." Thesis, University of Sussex, 2006. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.536535.
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Sosu, Edward M. "Unearthing the complexities in teachers' commitment to environmental education : a social psychological perspective." Thesis, University of Strathclyde, 2008. http://oleg.lib.strath.ac.uk:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=21735.
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This study investigates the social psychological factors that determine why some teachers are more committed to teaching environmental education (EE) than others. A mixed methods approach was adopted to explore and test these determinants and to offer an insight into the meanings of these determinants as perceived by teachers. In the quantitative phase, a revised Model of Environmental Education Commitment (MEEC; Shuman & Ham,1997) which is largely based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991; 1988) was explored using structural equation modelling techniques. Data were obtained from a sample of 182 primary school teachers in Scotland. The hypothesised model was tested to identify the significant determinants of commitment, relationship between these determinants and the utility of the MEEC in explaining teachers' commitment to EE. The qualitative phase involved in-depth interviews with 8 primary school teachers based on a framework of Soft Systems Methodology (Checkland & Scholes, 1990) to expand understanding and explore strategies for increasing teachers' commitment to EE. The results confirmed that the MEEC provided a significant explanation for why some teachers are more committed to teaching EE than others. Overall, teacher autonomy and perceived control in terms of the flexibility or inflexibility of the curriculum appeared to be the most significant influence on commitment. However, the findings showed a complex interrelationship between the factors that influence commitment. Teacher autonomy for instance was significantly dependent on the influence of referents and life experiences connected to environmental issues. The study recommended that these interrelationships should be taken into account in any attempt to improve the level of commitment. Findings from the study contribute significantly to understanding teacher commitment to EE by providing theoretical and statistical support for previous qualitative findings on the significant life experiences that influence commitment to environmental issues. Recommendations for future research are also discussed.
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Robottom, Ian Morris, and kimg@deakin edu au. "Contestation and continuity in educational reform: A critical study of innovations in environmental education." Deakin University. School of Education, 1985. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20031126.092202.
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This study explores the notion of contestation in environmental education. Contestation is a process in which self-interested individuals and groups in a social organisation cooperate, compete and negotiate in a complex interaction aimed at solving social problems. A "framework for critique" is developed, comprising technicist, liberal
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Chan, Ka-ling. "Implementation of environmental education in primary and secondary schools of Hong Kong : current status and barriers /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1995. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B14709983.
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Nogueira, Martins Analice. "Environmental Education and Gender: Voices from India and Brazil." Thesis, Södertörns högskola, Institutionen för naturvetenskap, miljö och teknik, 2016. http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:sh:diva-30213.
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Dramatic changes in the environmental patterns represent a threat to human beings and life on this planet. However, due to differences in the social roles and rights between women and men, a gender perspective is essential to understand how these changes in the environment are affecting individuals in their societies. Even though gender is appointed as a relevant factor when reflecting on the relationship human beings and nature, women’s knowledge, perspectives and needs are being overlooked by the Environmental Education research and theory. This research aims at investigating the relevance of a gender perspective in Environmental Education programs in societies where women are the main responsible for the household and childcare. To this end, the activities of two environmental NGOs – one from India and one from Brazil – have been investigated through the case study methodology. As per the methods applied, semi-structure interviews have been carried out with 10 women from both countries. Through gender lenses the formal and informal forces that influence social roles and power dynamics in the referred societies are analyzed. The empirical findings demonstrate that in both Indian and Brazilian societies women are still the main house and children caretakers. Such role implies the responsibility of deciding about energy and water consumption, waste management and other domestic expenditures. Empirical results suggest that when a woman is environmental-aware she has the potential to make more sustainable choices and thus educate other members of the family. However, being the main responsible for the private sphere can deprive women from playing a major role in the public level where key decision about the environment are taken. The present study represents a key contribution to the Environmental Education theory and research as it addresses the poorly explored field of Environmental Education and Gender issues.
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Lam, Wing-po. "Attitudes of teachers & teacher trainees towards environmental education." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1995. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B14709478.
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Lourenço, Fernando. "Entrepreneurship education for sustainable development : investigating the influence of economic, social and environmental factors." Thesis, Manchester Metropolitan University, 2009. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.493850.
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This study is about entrepreneurship education and how it promotes sustainable entrepreneurship (i.e., for profit green/social business). The focus of this study is to examine the impact of varying economic, social and environmental concerns of those engaged in entrepreneurship education for sustainable development. Recently, two conceptual papers in the Journal of Business Venturing highlighted the opportunity to promote and exploit sustainable entrepreneurship (Cohen and Wimi, 2007; Dean and McMullen, 2007). However, little is known about the role of entrepreneurship education in promoting opportunities within the arena of sustainable development (for profit green/social business opportunities). We do not know whether individuals' economic, environmental and social concerns have any impact on learners' learning, attitudes, intentions and behaviours. Research related to marketing and environmental psychology does indicate such relationship within the framework of the theory of planned behaviour.
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Cheng, Wai-mun Vivian. "Implementation of environmental education through the teaching of S4 - S5 biology, geography and history in Hong Kong secondary schools." [Hong Kong] : University of Hong Kong, 1994. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13834307.
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Owens, Dorothea Jody. "Nature's Classroom: An Ethnographic Case Study of Environmental Education." Scholar Commons, 2012. http://scholarcommons.usf.edu/etd/4192.
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NATURE'S CLASSROOM: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC CASE STUDY OF ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
DOROTHEA JODY OWENS
ABSTRACT
This ethnographic case study examines the dynamic relationship between culture and environmental education within the context of a specific Florida-based public education program. The School District of Hillsborough County (SDHC) offers the program through a three-day field trip to the study site, Nature's Classroom, and accompanying classroom curriculum. The site is located in Thonotosassa on the Hillsborough River, and serves approximately 13,500 to 15,000 sixth grade students annually. The key purpose of the research was to explore public education in a local setting as a vehicle for the transfer and acquisition of cultural knowledge, values, beliefs, and attitudes related to the environment.
My primary research question is as follows: What role do American cultural values play in the public education system, as demonstrated in environmental education at Nature's Classroom? Factors that guided data collection include the sociocultural and historical context, the field site itself, curriculum development and content, delivery of the curriculum to students, student outcomes, and additional or external factors that could potentially influence outcomes.
This dissertation explores the six factors using a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods for data collection and analysis. Methods include participant observation, semi-structured interviews, and archival document reviews. Results indicate that environmental education at this site has evolved in tandem with broader sociocultural trends in environmentalism, anthropology, and environmental education. Students show positive gains in knowledge and skills related to the environment.
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Yeung, Siu-hong Aaron. "Environmental education in Hong Kong with particular reference to teacher training /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1998. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B1994620X.
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Mulà, Pons de Vall Ingrid. "Living and learning sustainability in higher education : constructing indicators of social learning." Thesis, University of Gloucestershire, 2011. http://eprints.glos.ac.uk/1251/.
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This doctoral study explores the learning that occurs in higher education institutions within differing social and informal contexts, and how this learning can contribute to shifting thinking and actions (within the institution) towards sustainability. The research refers to this learning as ‘social learning’ and acknowledges its potential to influence the sustainability performance of a higher education institution. The study proposes indicators as a key research outcome to assist institutions in improving their contribution to social learning for sustainability. The study is unique in that social learning for sustainability in the higher education sector has been subject to little scrutiny. The originality of the research is underpinned by its focus on staff learning in higher education, but also by the research methodology used which has not been employed in this context or with this focus before. The empirical study was undertaken between 2008 and 2011 at three higher education institutions in the United Kingdom (UK) which were chosen for their explicit commitment to improving the university’s sustainability performance. The pilot study was conducted at the University of Gloucestershire and the main findings were derived at the Universities of Bradford and Bristol. Located within a critical social theory paradigm, the study used innovative research methods such as collective memory-work to capture staff experiences of social learning for sustainability. In each university, the research involved a group of members of staff in (i) writing and critically reflecting on their stories of social learning for sustainability within their institutions; and (ii) identifying contextual factors influencing this learning process. The data generated was triangulated with information captured through institutional documentary reviews, semi-structured interviews with members of staff and a research journal. The research demonstrates that social learning for sustainability in higher education tends to occur as both a facilitated and unfacilitated process. The first includes staff participating in extra-curricular activities, partnerships and networks, multi-stakeholder dialogues, mentoring, or action and participatory research. The latter tends to occur as a spontaneous face-to-face process or through online social networks. There is evidence that social learning processes which are non-hierarchical, involving learning from each other and occurring within comfort zones, are more effective in shifting the thinking and actions of staff in the area of sustainability. The study identifies physical space and academic cultures as key determinants of the frequency and quality of these processes. It also suggests that opportunities in this area need to be provided to all the different sub-cultures which exist in a higher education institution. Finally, whereas the research identifies how institutional culture influences social learning for sustainability, it concludes that a longitudinal study is needed to establish whether this learning process can shape the culture of a higher education institution.
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Chan, Ka-ling, and 陳嘉齡. "Implementation of environmental education in primary and secondary schools of Hong Kong: current status andbarriers." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1995. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31957651.
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Yeung, Pui-ming Stephen. "Geography teaching and environmental consciousness among Hong Kong secondary school students /." [Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong], 1993. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13665698.
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Wong, May-oi Esther. "A Study of the perceived teaching styles in environmental education through geography in Hong Kong /." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1992. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B13890852.
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D'Amore, Chiara. "Family Nature Clubs| Creating the Conditions for Social and Environmental Connection and Care." Thesis, Prescott College, 2015. http://pqdtopen.proquest.com/#viewpdf?dispub=3707605.
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A robust body of research has identified three primary life experiences that foster a lasting commitment to active care for the environment. These are: time spent enjoying nature, especially during childhood; a close, often familial, role model for nature appreciation; and participation in a nature or environment focused organization that offers direct learning opportunities. Family nature clubs (FNCs) bring groups of families together to explore nature on a regular basis – thus fulfilling all three of these experiences. This study used ecological psychology, attachment and family systems theories, and community psychology to create a framework for understanding how these experiences can come together in the form of FNCs to foster pro-environmental behavior as well as individual, familial, and community well-being. The methodologies of ethnography, case study and action research and the methods of direct observation, surveys, and most-significant change interviews were used. The study population was the leaders in and participants of FNCs, including Columbia Families in Nature, a FNC I founded. Study results incorporate data from 47 FNCs and over 350 participants. More than twenty distinct positive outcomes of FNC participation were identified in the areas of: greater knowledge of and sense of connection with nature; more time spent in nature; enhanced individual and familial well-being; stronger social connections; and greater environmental and social action. The youth nature experiences of the adult participants was found to be significantly related to their current sense of connection to nature (p < 0.001) and level of environmental action (p=0.03). Family time in nature was found to be significantly related to connection with nature (p=0.007), environmental action (p=0.02), and social action (p=0.03).
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O'Donoghue, Rob. "Detached harmonies : a study in/on developing social processes of environmental education in eastern southern Africa." Thesis, Rhodes University, 1997. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007726.
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Long-term social processes are explored to examine the shaping of environmental education in eastern southern Africa. The study opens with early Nguni social figurations when 'to conserve was to hunt.' It then examines colonial conservation on the frontiers of imperial expansion and developing struggles for and against wildlife preservation. These processes shaped an inversion of earlier harmonies as declining wildlife was protected in island sanctuaries of natural wilderness and 'to conserve was not to hunt.' Inside protected areas, conservation management struggles shaped new harmonies of interdependence in nature, enabling better steering choices in developing conservation science institutions. Here more reality congruent knowledge also revealed escalating risk which was linked to a lack of awareness amongst communities of 'others' outside. Within continuing conservation struggles, education in, about and for the environment emerged as new institutional processes of social control. The study examines wilderness experience, interpretation, extension, conservancies and the development of an environmental education field centre, a teacher education programme and a school curriculum. Naming and clarifying the emergent education game for reshaping the awareness and behaviour of others is examined within a developing figuration of environmental education specialists. Particular attention is given to academic and statutory processes shaping environmental education as a field of objective principles and rational processes within modernist continuities and discontinuities into the 1990's. An environmental education field centre, an earth-love curriculum and research on reserve neighbour interaction are examined as political sociologies developing within a declining power gradient and wide ranging socio-political change. Into the present, a final window on a local case of water pollution examines shifting relational dynamics revealing how environment and development education models of process may have little resonance amidst long-term socio-historical struggles and shifting controls over surroundings, others and self. A concluding review suggests that grounded critical processes engaging somewhat blind control over surroundings may yet reshape self-control and social control amongst others. The trajectories of these clarifying struggles must remain open-ended as sedimented myth and memory is reshaped within ongoing processes of escalating risk and global intermeshing.
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Lam, Wing-po, and 林永波. "Attitudes of teachers & teacher trainees towards environmental education." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1995. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31957961.
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Parsons, Ashley Elise. "Inner-City Children and Environmental Equity: Evidence from Philadelphia." Thesis, Virginia Tech, 2011. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/33501.
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Experts agree that children need access to green spaces. Many urban children live in degraded environments unsuitable for outdoor play. Children primarily play in school yards. Low-income and African American children are often the victims of social, economic, and educational inequalities leading to the under-allocation of resources for their public schools. Patterns of wealth, advantage and disadvantage are geographically visible in Philadelphiaâ s urban fabric in the segregation of many black and low-income neighborhoods. This is a direct result of historic urban development . Revitalization has aimed at rejuvenating the inner-city economically, but has lead to the displacement of many poor black families and increased segregation of classes. There is a high population of low-income African American children attending public schools in the inner-city. Philadelphia is known for their public-private funding partnerships for community projects and services. Funding problems resulting from low-tax revenue and disinterest of private investors have lead to a disparity in achievement and curriculum between city public schools, private, and suburban public schools. Federal policies attempt to lessen this gap and provide incentives for environmental education programs, but poorer schools lack the funding to expand curriculum and improve or maintain playgrounds. Philadelphiaâ s parks and recreation programs have tried to provide child playscapes to disadvantaged children and schools additional outdoor resources, but racial tensions and neighborhood segregation act as repressors to this success. Guidelines are needed to help create programs and policies that can mitigate disadvantaged childrenâ s environmental equity.Master of Urban and Regional Planning
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Smith, Alison. "Raising environmental awareness through performance art." Online pdf file accessible through the World Wide Web, 2007. http://archives.evergreen.edu/masterstheses/Accession86-10MES/Smith_A%20MESThesis%202007.pdf.
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Lui, Chun-yin, and 雷鎮賢. "A study of the whole school approach towards environmental education." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 1995. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31958096.
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Hsu, Yi-Hsuan. "An integrated model for investigation of social-psychological influences on college students' attitudinal tendencies toward appropriate environmental behavior a study in Taiwan /." Connect to this title online, 2003. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc%5Fnum=osu1054677969.
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Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2003.Title from first page of PDF file. Document formatted into pages; contains xvi, 229 p.; also includes graphics Includes bibliographical references (p. 164-174). Available online via OhioLINK's ETD Center
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Kwong, Mong-ha. "A study of the revised 1995 HKCE chemistry syllabus on the development of S4-5 pupils in the awareness of the environmental aspects in their daily life." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1995. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B14710195.
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Farrington, Katie. "Engaging sense of place in an environment of change: youth, identity and place-based learning activities in environmental education." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2006. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1007931.
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This case study investigates sense of place of youth amidst a background of change in postapartheid South Africa. As used in this study, sense of place refers to the attachments made to both physical and social places, and the social and cultural interactions and meanings associated with such places. The research was conducted with a group of 13 young adults at Mary Waters Senior Secondary School in Grahamstown. The literature suggests that the changes that occur in the lives of the participants at school-leaving age such as new opportunities to identify with global aspirations, tend to influence their sense of place in local contexts. Social change that occurs due to globalising forces such as access to new technologies and improved personal mobility, also influences sense of place in this context. Another integral factor is the structural influence of changing cultural and educational norms. These notions form part of the backdrop of this study. The research project was developed in response to calls for learning approaches that are situated more in local contexts and which include the youth as intrinsic participants informing environmental education approaches. This research draws attention to the significance of finding sustainable ways that enhance opportunities for agency on the part of the youth in future local and global environmental care-taking. The study took place over a period of 15 months in which time the participants undertook place-based activities in their communities around self-identified environmental concerns. The study was intentionally generative in approach as this allowed the voices of the participants and their environmental perspectives to be considered in developing methods and activities that were suitable to their particular contexts and interests. The study highlights the relevance of particular social contexts, through the perspectives of people and in this case learners, as key to environmental education enquiries. The combination of approaches that consider: a) knowledge about social context, b) the educational intervention (place-based activities) and, c) the situated social capital of the participants, all form the basis of meaningful pedagogical engagements and serve to address my research question: How is learners' sense of place developed and articulated through place-based activities, and what are the implications for environmental education amidst a contemporary landscape of change in South Africa?
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Momiroski, Toni Ross William. "Knowing and acting in the environment : the relationship between knowledge, beliefs and actions in environmental students and alumni /." Abstract, 2009. http://mulinet3.li.mahidol.ac.th/thesis/2552/cd425/4936030.pdf.
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Zorrilla, Pujana Juanita. "Integrating environmental education in national parks of Colombia." Doctoral thesis, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 2016. http://hdl.handle.net/10803/370118.
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La Educación Ambiental (EA) es considerada por muchos especialistas como parte fundamental en la gestión de las áreas protegidas, constituyendo una pieza clave en la vinculación de las dimensiones biológica y social para la conservación de los ecosistemas. Comparando con otras estrategias de gestión como la investigación biológica y el monitoreo, este campo se encuentra aun en su infancia, en donde se detectan vacíos en lo referente a sistematización y evaluación, lo que dificulta la integración y visibilidad de la EA dentro de los programas de gestión para la conservación de las áreas protegidas.
Tomando el Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia como área de estudio, se desarrolló una ruta metodológica capaz de integrar los planes de EA locales al modelo de gestión existente, mediante una investigación participativa e inclusiva para responder a las necesidades y objetivos específicos de conservación. En primer lugar, un diagnóstico interno de la EA fue realizado, revelando que la integración de la EA dentro de la estructura de gestión de los parques es una necesidad prioritaria, siendo un resultado que coincide en los dos estudios de caso elaborados en la costa del Pacífico colombiano. El diagnóstico también demuestra que la comunicación, la participación, la formación y la evaluación tienen que ser reforzadas, en donde la vinculación de la comunidad y a las partes interesadas involucradas en le proceso de gestión es esencial para el éxito del programa de EA y los resultados de gestión.
La ruta metodológica propuesta ha sido consensuada por representantes del equipo de educación ambiental a nivel local, regional y nacional, e incorpora consejos y recomendaciones de las ONGs, de manera que la propuesta sea lo mas incluyente con los usuarios y actores sociales vinculados a los procesos de gestión de los parques. La integración de la EA en los planes de acción local, nos ayudará a avanzar hacia una gestión sostenible de las zonas marinas y costeras protegidas, teniendo en cuenta no sólo los aspectos biológicos, sino también el prisma socio-cultural.
Una vez la ruta metodológica fue consensuada, la evaluación era el reto pendiente. Actualmente es necesaria una nueva perspectiva para medir la eficacia de la gestión en las áreas protegidas pasa por la inclusión de los datos sociales para la toma de decisiones. En este proceso, la EA juega un papel decisivo como catalizador entre los campos biológico y social en la gestión de áreas protegidas, si embargo son pocos los datos sobre esta relación. Siguiendo una perspectiva de “bottom-up” institucional, se desarrolló una batería de indicadores de EA, de fácil uso para los profesionales y capaz de medir la respuesta del programa de EA en relación con los objetivos de conservación del plan de manejo de áreas protegidas. Usando una combinación de técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas, la recopilación de datos y la elaboración de los indicadores se divide en cinco etapas: 1. Encuesta a escala nacional sobre el programa de educación ambiental. 2. Una fase de entrevistas al equipo de EA de Parques Nacionales y ONGs medioambientales. 3. Categorización de objetivos de EA 4. Proceso de Sistematización y 5. Grupo Focal para evaluar la propuesta de indicadores.
Finalmente, un conjunto de 5 indicadores es desarrollado siguiendo las necesidades identificadas: apropiación de la información, articulación, calidad de la participación, ejecución de los programas y continuidad del proceso de EA.
Se espera que este nuevo enfoque para la evaluación de la EA sea adoptado en la actualización de los planes de gestión del Sistema de Parques Nacionales de Colombia, como una herramienta innovadora que contribuye a la evaluación de la eficacia de las áreas protegidas, incorporando un enfoque más social y participativo.
Esta Tesis doctoral es una aportación para llevar a la acción la Política colombiana para la Participación Social en la Conservación y la Estrategia Nacional de Educación Ambiental para Parques Nacionales de Colombia.Many experts consider environmental Education (EE) as an essential part in the management of protected areas, constituting a key element linking the biological and social dimensions for the conservation of ecosystems. Comparing with other kind of management strategies as biological monitoring and research, this field is still in its infancy, with many breaches in terms of systematization and assessment, a situation that difficult the integration and visibility of EA within management programs in the conservation of protected areas. Taking the Colombian National Natural Parks System as study area, a methodological route was developed to integrate local EE plans to the existing model of management planning. The study was developed through a participatory and inclusive research to respond to the specific conservation needs and goals. In first place, an internal EE diagnosis was developed, revealing that EE integration within the parks management structure was a first priority need, being a converging result on the two case studies on National Parks from the Pacific Coast of Colombia. The diagnosis also demonstrates that communication, participation, training and evaluation have to be reinforced, and linking the community and stakeholders involved in the park management was essential for the success of the EE program and management results. The proposed methodology route has been agreed upon by the National Parks staff from local, regional and national level, and incorporates advice and recommendations from different stakeholders, in order to better include the park users. Integrating EE into local action plans, will help us to advance toward sustainable management in marine and coastal protected areas elsewhere, taking into account not only the biological but also the social-cultural prism. Once the methodological route was agreed, the assessment was the remaining challenge. Nowadays, a new perspective to measure management effectiveness in protected areas goes through the inclusion of social data for decision-making. In this process, EE plays a key role in catalyzing biological and social fields in the management process, but there are scarce data about this relation. Following an institutional bottom-up perspective, an EE indicator set proposal was developed, being easy to use by practitioners and able to measure the response of the EE program in relation to the conservation objectives of protected areas management plan. Using a combination of quantitative and qualitative techniques, the data gathering and indicator elaboration is divided in five stages: 1. An EE program survey at a national scale. 2. An interview phase to EE staff and NGOs. 3. EE Objectives categorization. 4. Systematization process and 5. Focus group to evaluate the indicators set proposal. Finally, a set of 5 EE indicators is developed to fulfill the identified needs: appropriation of information, articulation, participation quality, program implementation and continuity of EE process. It is expected that this new approach for EE evaluation will hopefully be adopted in the update of management plans of the National Park System of Colombia, as an innovative tool that contributes to the effectiveness assessment of protected areas, incorporating a more social and participative focus. This PhD dissertation is a contribution to the statements of the Colombian Policy for Social Participation in Conservation and the National Environmental Education Strategy for National Parks of Colombia
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Saccol, Angela Link. "Educação ambiental e representações sociais: um estudo com professoras dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental." Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, 2012. http://repositorio.utfpr.edu.br/jspui/handle/1/412.
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A presente pesquisa objetivou identificar e compreender as representações sociais de educação ambiental de professores dos anos iniciais do ensino fundamental de escolas municipais de Pato Branco. Para isso, participaram da pesquisa 6 docentes de uma escola urbana e 6 de uma escola rural. Inicialmente apresentou-se a teoria das representações sociais, focalizando um breve histórico de seu surgimento, o seu conceito e desdobramentos, além dos processos de objetivação e ancoragem. Por conseguinte, ilustrou-se um entendimento de educação em seu sentido mais amplo, a compreensão da crise ambiental, sua contextualização baseada em encontros e congressos ocorridos em nível nacional e internacional e as correntes, conservadora e crítica, pelas quais a educação ambiental vem sendo desenvolvida no Brasil. Para complementar, foi explorada a temática da formação de professores e a introdução da educação ambiental nas práticas pedagógicas dos docentes. Como proposta metodológica delimitaram-se três instrumentos de coleta de dados: entrevista com as docentes, hierarquização de evocações e análise de documentos, como os planos de ensino das professoras e os projetos políticos pedagógicos de ambas as escolas. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se a análise de conteúdo para identificar e compreender as representações de educação ambiental. A partir do material coletado, concluiu-se que as representações sociais de educação ambiental das professoras pesquisadas giram em torno da conscientização para respeitar e preservar o ambiente. Trata-se, então, de que essa educação consiste em um conjunto de procedimentos cujo fim é desenvolver a consciência para o respeito e a preservação do ambiente. Ambiente este considerado apenas em seus aspectos naturais. A técnica da hierarquização corroborou essa compreensão, que a representação social de educação ambiental tem a ver com o desenvolvimento da consciência para com o respeito e a preservação do ambiente. Na análise dos Projetos Políticos Pedagógicos das escolas bem como o caderno das professoras, observamos a inexistência quase que total de registros das atividades desenvolvidas em sala de aula. Nos relatos das entrevistas e na análise documental foram apontados que os diálogos sobre educação ambiental são realizados, porém ainda muito ligados às datas comemorativas. Também foi constatado que as práticas pedagógicas das pesquisadas repercutem, em certo sentido, os processos de formação das professoras em educação ambiental. Reforçou-se a questão da formação frágil dessas professoras, as quais são exigidas de muitas formas e realizam o que podem para não deixar os alunos sem acesso ao conhecimento, justificando, então, as atividades pontuais encontradas nos materiais dessas professoras. Faz-se necessário o desenvolvimento de políticas públicas voltadas para a educação ambiental que sejam destinadas aos professores em sala de aula, além do oferecimento de formação continuada com um enfoque ambiental e a distribuição de materiais nas escolas, uma vez que o tema é atual e já faz parte do cotidiano escolar em si.This work aims to identify and comprehend the social representations of environmental education of teachers of the initial years of the elementary schools of the city of Pato Branco. This research involved six teachers of an urban school and six teachers of a rural school. Initially, is presented the social representation theory, with a brief overview of its origins, concepts and ramifications. It is also presented the processes of objectification and anchoring. Thus, an understanding of education is exemplified in its broader sense, an environmental crisis comprehension, its contextualization based in local and international conferences and the conservative and critical currents that form the main framework for the environmental education developed in Brazil. To complement, it is explored the thematic of teacher formation and the introduction of the environmental education in the pedagogical practices of the teachers. As methodological proposition, three instruments of collecting data are used: interview, hierarchization of the evocations and analysis of documents, such as, syllabus and political-pedagogic projects of both schools. To analyze the data, it is used content analysis to identify and comprehend the representations of the environmental education. Based on the collected data, it is concluded that the social representations of the environmental education revolves around the awareness to respect and preserve the environment. Therefore, this education consists in a set of procedures aiming to develop the awareness to respect and to preserve the environment which is only considered on its natural aspects. The hierarchization technique corroborates this comprehension that the social representation of environmental education is related to development of the awareness regarding the respect and preservation of the environment. In the analysis of the syllabus and the class diary of the teachers, it can be observed almost total inexistence of registered activities developed in class. During the interviews and the documental analysis it can be noted that dialogs about environmental education are carried out. However, they are still related to commemorative dates. It is also noted that pedagogical practices of the interviewed people reflect, in a certain sense, the processes of formation of the teachers of environmental education. It is stressed the fragile formation of those teachers that are demanded, in several ways, to realize what is possible in order to not leave the students without the access to the knowledge, therefore justifying the point-specific activities found in the teacher’s materials. It is necessary the development of public policies related to the environmental education focused on teachers, beyond providing continuous formation also focused on environmental education and the distribution of related materials in schools, since the subject is current and it is part of the daily routine of the schools.
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Lam, Kwok-keung. "A study of the concerns and practices of the heads of geography departments in the implementation of environmental education in secondary schools of Hong Kong." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1995. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B14709533.
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Klein, Antonia. "The Environmental Health of the Autistic Student in the Public School Classroom." ScholarWorks, 2015. https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/1409.
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Professionals have found autism to be an enigmatic condition. While necessary
biomedical research continues, a gap exists in the inclusion of parental opinions,
knowledge, and experiences in educational planning for their autistic children. The
purpose of this mixed methods study was to identify the factors that the parents felt
contributed to the academic success of their autistic child in the public school classroom
environment and ways in which their ideas might contribute to overall educational
planning and classroom design in structure, curriculum development, and intervention
strategies which might lead to reduced stress. Parental input was explored through
semistructured personal interviews with 8 parents and the administration of a 32-question
survey questionnaire to 109 parents of autistic children. A content analysis was done on
the qualitative data, and an analysis of quantitative data reported the frequency and
percentages of the participant responses. Findings from the data revealed multiple areas
in need of improved educational services that include the classroom organization,
educator training and knowledge about the autistic condition, educator support, effective
communication, and behavioral management of the symptoms of autism. The social
change impact from the study's findings have the potential to inform educational
planning, foster collaboration, increase educator participation in autism training methods,
secure necessary funding for evidence based autism educational programs, promote
further research, and provide awareness of existing empirically based approaches
designed to meet the needs of a vulnerable population.
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Shobe, Amber R. "Insights into Perspectives on Environmental Sustainability." UKnowledge, 2015. http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cld_etds/19.
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As scientists become more aware of the imposing threats associated with climate change, university leaders are encouraged to become familiar with the principles of sustainability. Abundant research already supports the relevance of environmental sustainability in higher education; however, there exists a gap in the literature which investigates an understanding of environmental sustainability and the implementation of its practices. By examining colleges at the University of Kentucky, this study identifies organizational barriers to recognizing a thorough understanding of environmental sustainability at the departmental level. The results indicate that out of the eight colleges selected, two have no existing environmental sustainability programs or initiatives. Based on this research it is possible for departments to initiate self-assessment and situate themselves firmly inside an institutional vision of sustainability.
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Hatfield, Denise Truex. "Addressing second and third grade California science and social science content standards through environmental literature." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2006. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3056.
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In response to the federal legislation No Child Left Behind, schools across the country implemented required reading programs for classroom instruction. Open Court's Reading program meets this criterion for many schools. The text in Open Court Reading for grades two and three was evaluated for science and social science content standards that would be supportive of environmental education. Supplemental lessons from Project Learning Tree, Project WILD, and Project WET were identified.
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Weidensaul, Amy. "Exploring Lifelong Influence of Participating in the Junior Audubon Club During Childhood." Antioch University / OhioLINK, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1544808352448322.
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Schenkelberg, Michaela A. "Social environmental influences on physical activity of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders." Thesis, Kansas State University, 2013. http://hdl.handle.net/2097/15829.
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Master of Public HealthDepartment of Kinesiology
David A. Dzewaltowski
Background: Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) may be at greater risk for not meeting physical activity guidelines than neurotypical children (NT). Influences on physical activity (PA) of children with ASD are unclear and marked characteristics of the disorder pose challenges for developing interventions to promote PA. . The purpose of this study was to explore setting (free play versus structured) and group composition influences on ASD and NT young children's physical activity (LMVPA, MVPA) during a summer camp. Methods: Data were collected on 12 boys (5-6 years) attending an inclusive summer camp. During free play and structured activity sessions, research assistants observed the camp’s social environment and children’s PA using a modified version of the Observational System for Recording Physical Activity of Children – Preschool. Results: In a free play setting, children with ASD spent significantly less time in MVPA while with a peer (1.0% of session time), compared to being with a group of peers (12%) or when alone (13%). In free play, NT peers spent significantly more time in LMVPA when solitary (67%) compared to with a peer (38%) or with an adult (40%). In a structured setting, NT peers had greater LMVPA solitary (72%) social environments compared to being in a group with adult (34%). Conclusion: Preliminary evidence suggests that features of the social environment may influence PA levels of children with and without ASD. Depending on the setting, certain social group contexts may be more PA promoting than others.
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Yocco, Victor Samuel. "Exploring the Effects of Communication Framed by Environmental Concern in Informal Science Education Contexts." The Ohio State University, 2010. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1284688743.
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Webb, Garlon Mobley. "Relations Between Social-Environmental Characteristics of Families and Career Decision/Indecision of Secondary Tech Prep Students." UNF Digital Commons, 1996. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/etd/218.
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The study examined the relations of social-environmental characteristics of families and demographic variables on career decision/indecision of 425 secondary Tech Prep students in North Florida. Career decision/indecision was the dependent variable, measured by the Career Decision Scale (Osipow, Carney, Winer, Yanico, & Koschier, 1987). Predictor independent variables included social-environmental characteristics of families as measured by the Family Environment Scale (Moos & Moos, 1981). Other predictor independent variables included academic achievement (reading comprehension and mathematics)' gender, economic disadvantage and race.
No significant mean differences were found by gender and by grade of Tech Prep students on the Certainty Scale or the Indecision Scale of the Career Decision Scale. There was no significant interaction between gender and grade level of Tech Prep students. The means indicated a middle range of certainty and a middle range of indecision. The expectation that the sample group of Tech Prep students would be more career decided by virtue of their selection of Tech Prep programs was not supported. It can not be known if without their Tech Prep participation, these students would have been in a lower range of career certainty. The lack of significant differences by grade of Tech Prep students on the Certainty Scale and Indecision Scale gives rise to the concern that 12th-grade students are no more prepared than 11th-grade students to follow specific plans for their future careers.
The means of the students on the subscales of the Family Environment Scale indicated the highest mean on the subscale of Moral- Religious Emphasis and lowest mean on the subscale Intellectual-Cultural Orientation. The students' scores on the Family Environment Scale were in the middle range.
The profile of demographic variables was as follows. The Reading Comprehension normal curve equivalent scores (NCE) was 51.21 for the 11th-grade and 12th-grade Tech Prep students. The Mathematics mean NCE score was 50.95 for the students. The mean scores of students in this study were in the average range. These scores are not unexpected in that students in Tech Prep are recruited most heavily from the general education track. However, the Tech Prep benefit of higher level academic courses is not clearly indicated in these average GTAT scores.
The total sample was 66.8% female and 33.2% male. The total sample was 76.2% White, 20.0% African American and 3.7% other. More than 70% of the sample either did not qualify or did not apply for free or reduced lunch, and could not, therefore, be classified as economic disadvantaged. Tabulation of gender, racial and economic distribution for Tech Prep students in Florida is needed.
Stepwise multiple regression analyses were used to explore the predictive ability of demographic variables on career decision/indecision and to explore the predictive ability of the ten subscales of the Family Environment Scale on career decision/indecision.
There were similarities in the predictor demographic variables in the prediction formula for career certainty and career indecision. Regarding the predictive ability of the demographic variables on Career Certainty Scores, a multiple R of .26 was computed and accounted for 6.5% of the variance. Race entered on the first step, correlated .20 with Career Certainty and accounted for 4.4% of the variance. White students had a slight tendency to be more certain regarding career decision-making. The relations of culture-specific variables of racial minorities on career decision/indecision was not examined in this study. All tests are, at least to some extent, culture-bound. Therefore, test scores by minorities can be negatively affected by White, middle class cultural contexts. Reading Comprehension was loaded on the second step and contributed 2.1 % additional variance. Reading Comprehension correlated -.16 with Certainty. Students with higher reading scores tended to be slightly less certain of their career decisions. This study did not examine realism of career decisions. This study also did not examine the appropriateness of career choice with aptitude or achievement levels.
Regarding the predictive ability of the demographic variables on Career Indecision Scores, a multiple R of .21 was computed and accounted for 4.6% of the variance. The Mathematics Scores correlated .12 with Indecision Scores and accounted for 1.2% of the variance. Race contributed an additional 1.7% of the variance. Class (grade) contributed 1.6% additional variance. African American students and 11th-grade students had a very slight tendency to be less sure of their career decisions.
There were similarities in the predictor variables in the prediction formula for career certainty and career indecision. Race contributed a significant amount of the variance in predicting career certainty and career indecision. There was a tendency for African American Tech Prep students to have more indecision and less certainty than White Tech Prep students. Cognitive variables contributed a significant amount of the variance. GTAT Reading Comprehension scores predicted career certainty while Mathematics scores were the variables predicting career indecision.
Regarding the predictive ability of the ten subscales of the Family Environment Scale on Career Certainty Scores, a multiple R of .273 was computed and accounted for 7.46% of the variance. Intellectual-Cultural Orientation contributed 5.37% of the variance and correlated .23 with Certainty. Achievement Orientation contributed 2.1 % unique variance. Achievement Orientation correlated .17 with Certainty. Both the Achievement Orientation and Intellectual-Cultural Orientation scales were subscales measuring Personal Growth Dimensions.
Regarding the predictive ability of the ten subscales of the Family Environment Scale on Career Indecision Scores, Intellectual-Cultural Orientation correlated -.212 with Career Indecision and accounted for 4.5% of the variance. Therefore, only one of the ten subscales of the Family Environment Scale accounted for variance regarding career indecision. The mirror image indicated higher scores on the Intellectual-Cultural Orientation subscale predicted career certainty and lower scores on Intellectual-Cultural Orientation predicted indecision.
The results of this study provided limited support for the predictive ability of demographic variables and family subscales on career certainty and career indecision. Clearly, a deeper and boarder understanding of the processes involved in adolescent career decision-making is needed.
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Petersen, Hans-Georg, and Karl Heinz Jüttemeier. "Taxes, transfers, economic efficiency and social justice : essays on public economics 1979 – 2009. - Chapter 6: Social policy, higher education and environmental economics." Universität Potsdam, 2011. http://opus.kobv.de/ubp/volltexte/2011/5042/.
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This volume contains the articles and papers which predominately have been published in international journals or edited volumes in the period from 1979 to 2009. The single articles reflect the main research areas of the editor and his co-authors who were engaged at the Kiel Institute of World Economics, the Johannes-Kepler-University Linz/Austria, the Justus- Liebig-University Giessen, the University of Potsdam, and the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin).
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Tang, Wong-biu. "A study of the relationship between stages of cognitive development and home background on environmental learning of S.1 and S.4 geography students in Hong Kong." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1995. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B14710080.
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McGarry, Dylan. "Empathy in the time of ecological apartheid : a social sculpture practice-led inquiry into developing pedagogies for ecological citizenship." Thesis, Rhodes University, 2014. http://hdl.handle.net/10962/d1013154.
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Considering the ecological crisis and the increased disconnection between human beings and nature, this study attempts to find the social and aesthetic educational response needed for developing ecological citizenship for the 21st century. In this transdisciplinary study I articulate what at first seems a clumsy attempt to enable the capacities of the embodied ecological citizen, and which later emerges as an alchemical ‘social sculpture’ approach to learning that expands the range of capacities available to the citizen and the citizen’s immediate community. This learning bridges the gap between purely biocentric and technocentric forms of education, and addresses the ambiguity of concepts and forms of action such as ‘sustainability’. My primary focus is enabling both communal and personal forms of agency: new ways of 'doing’ and 'being' in the world as it changes radically. I argue that this demands constantly reflecting on and engaging without understanding, place and perception of the problems we see. Attending to a call for the importance of complex learning processes, that deepens our understanding of sustainability, and the need for methodological and pedagogical approaches to accessible forms of learning socially in the era of climate change and environmental degradation, this study offers a particular insight into the education of an ecological citizen. In particular I examine a form of learning that enables individuals to explore relationships between themselves and their ecologies (both physical and social), and that encourages personal forms of knowing so that each person’s values can be cultivated within the experience and intuitive expression from both inner and outer realities. Central to my research focus is addressing the difficulties inherent in ‘ecological apartheid’, which is defined as a growing separation of relationships that include the human being’s relationship with the natural world, as well as disconnections experienced within one’s own inner and outer capacities. Subsequently I investigate forms of learning that encourage agency that most appropriately enable citizens to respond personally to both inner and outer forms of disconnection. ‘Personal’ and ‘relational agency’ are defined and investigated through an initial twelve-month collaborative participatory contextual profiling exploratory research period in South Africa (phase A), where I explore various forms of multiple-genre creative social learning practice that develop an accessible set of methodologies and pedagogies for the ecological citizen. Through this exploratory research, I place significance in the relatively unknown field of social sculpture, which I investigate through a self-made apprenticeship with Shelley Sacks, an expert in the field. This is documented through a rigorous ethnographic inquiry over a period of 18 months. Following this I undertake another two-year collaborative, practice-based research study across South Africa (phase B: 17 towns, with a total of 350 citizens) and eventually abroad (United Kingdom, Germany, USA and Belgium).The focus of this study was the implementation of a collaboratively developed citizen learning practice entitled Earth Forum developed by Shelley Sacks as a progression from her work “Exchange Values: voices of insivible lives” and my collaboative exploration into Earth Forum and its further development draws heavily from social sculpture methods obtained during the apprenticeship, and applied in 36 different incidences. I further explore the efficacy of this practice in enabling and expanding the capacities of participants, particularly those that encourage the development of personal and relational agency. This was achieved through a pedagogical development and expansion period (phase C). A primary finding through the iterative phase (phase D) was the value of imaginal contemplation, attentive listening, and empathy as capacities that enable an ecological citizen’s overall capability. I ascribed this to Nussbaum and Sen’s (1993) capability theory and the need to enable the articulation and implementation of a citizen’s valued ‘beings and doings’. Through this iterative phase, specific attention is given to listening and intuitive capacities in enabling personal and relational agency, and specifically I observed the fundamental role of imagination in this form of learning. Particularly valuable for the educational contribution of this study is the pedagogical development of the Earth Forum practice that enables an accessible, socially constructed form of learning. This contributes specifically to exploring ‘how’ social learning is undertaken, and I argue that an aesthetic approach to learning is vital for the education of the ecological citizen. I carefully describe how one can conduct collaborative practice-based research that utilises creative connective practice in agency development. This collaborative approach, with regard to learning socially and capacity development for ecological citizenship (that focuses its attention on addressing ecological apartheid and separateness), is articulated through a multiple-genred text. I found that empathetic capacity in ecological citizen education is relatively unexplored, and within listening and as well in empathy theory, that the role of imagination in listening and empathy development, requires greater attention. I attempt to reveal how connective practice considers aesthetic form and shape in expanding capacities of human beings, and introduce novel expanded forms of developing pedagogies that encourage personal and relational agency in the context of ecological apartheid from the artsbased field of social sculpture. Finally, I aim in this study to share the potential value found in social sculpture theory and practice into the field of environmental education and social learning through a reflection on the current context of education and social learning, and its potential enrichment via social sculpture processes.
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Flanagan, Linda Sue. "Using therapy dogs with troubled middle school children to improve social skills and teach environmental sensitivity." CSUSB ScholarWorks, 2007. https://scholarworks.lib.csusb.edu/etd-project/3227.
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The objective of this project is to impove the social skills of troubled middle school children by teaching them humane dog care as well as the handling and training skills of dogs. The hope is to use therapy dogs as a link to the local environment and the development of environmental sensitivity; and to improve the academic status and decrease any negative behaviors displayed by these children. Includes lesson plans.
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Lam, Chi-kei Jacqueline, and 林哲奇. "From awareness to action: problems of environmental education campaigns in Hong Kong." Thesis, The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong), 2001. http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B31254937.
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ANDRADE, LIVIA IGLESIAS DE. "THE GEOGRAPHIC EDUCATION AS A WAY TO THE PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABILITIES: REGISTERING SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES WITH THE 6TH YEAR OF BASIC EDUCATION." PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIRO, 2011. http://www.maxwell.vrac.puc-rio.br/Busca_etds.php?strSecao=resultado&nrSeq=18186@1.
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PONTIFÍCIA UNIVERSIDADE CATÓLICA DO RIO DE JANEIROO trabalho destaca-se como uma produção teórico-conceitual, na qual analisamos o ensino da geografia na educação básica, fundamentalmente no 6° ano do ensino fundamental, enfatizando que a educação geográfica, através do ensino do conceito geográfico de lugar, pode contribuir para a formação cidadã dos alunos, bem como para a (re)criação de valores socioambientais éticos, representando assim um caminho eficaz a ser trilhado para a promoção de sustentabilidades no espaço. Desse modo, propomos que a noção de sustentabilidades faça parte do conteúdo programático da geografia escolar, criando uma relação simbiótica entre a educação geográfica e a promoção de ações sustentáveis no espaço, através de metodologias de ensino, como a elaboração de projetos didáticos, que favoreçam a formação socioambiental ética do alunado, preparando-os para o exercício da cidadania, e para a construção de relações de afeto, solidárias, cuidadosas e responsáveis com o outro e com o meio ambiente. Acreditamos que a referida simbiose pode ser um ganho tanto para o ensino da Geografia, como para a construção e gestão de espaços de vivências sustentáveis, no âmbito socioambiental.
The work stands out as a production theoretical and conceptual, in which we analyze the geography teaching at the basic education, fundamentally at the 6th year of the basic education, emphasizing that the geographic education, trough the teaching of the geographical concept of place, can contribute to the students citizenship formation, as well as to the creation of social and environmental ethic values, thus representing an effective way to be trodden to the promotion of sustainabilities at the space. Thus, we propose that the notion of sustainabilities make part of the programmatic content of school geography, creating an symbiotic relation between the geographical education and the promotion of sustainable actions in space, through teaching methodologies, like the elaboration of didactic projects, that favor the pupils ethic social and environmental formation, preparing them to the exercise of citizenship, and to the construction of relations of affection, solidarity, carefull, and responsible with the other and the environment. We believe that the mentioned symbiosis can be a acquisition both to the teaching of geography, as to the construction and management of spaces of sustainable experiences at the social and environmental scope.
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Tsang, Man-sing. "A study of preferred teaching styles in environmental education through primary science in Hong Kong primary schools." Hong Kong : University of Hong Kong, 1996. http://sunzi.lib.hku.hk/hkuto/record.jsp?B17596580.
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