Environmental Learning

Environmental education and education for sustainable development have become features of many countries¿ formal education systems. To date, however, there have been few attempts to explore what such learning looks and feels like from the perspective of the learners. Based on in-depth empirical studies in school and university classrooms, this book presents rich insights into the complexities and dynamics of students¿ environmental learning. The authors show how careful analysis of students¿ environmental learning experiences can provide powerful pointers for future practice, policy and research. Environmental Learning will be a key resource for educators, teacher educators, decision-makers and researchers involved in education and sustainable development.

Clear implications for enhancing environmental learning practice, policy and research

1. IntroductionEducation and the environment
The role of learning
The student experience
The evidence underpinning this book
Structure of the book 2. What is environmental learning?
Defining environmental learning
Our framework
3. Researching environmental learning
Environmental learning ¿ an emerging research topic
Ways of researching environmental learning
Current knowledge about environmental learning in formal settings 4. Lenses for understanding environmental learning
Introducing the concept of lenses
Introducing the three lenses
How the lenses came about
Why these lenses are important 5. Dealing with emotions and values
Introduction
Students¿ emotions and values as part of the learning process
Students¿ conceptions of values in subject and subject matter 6. Questioning relevance
Introduction
Relevance to learners
Relevance to curricular context 7. Negotiating viewpoints among students and teachers
Introduction
Differing views of environmental issues
Differing views of what is controversial
Differing views of what is relevant
Differing views of empathy tasks 8. Enhancing environmental learning
Overview of main arguments and findings
Enhancing environmental learning practices and policies
Enhancing environmental learning research