Environmental Education through Distance Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The roots of environmental problems at local, national, regional, and global levels lie in factors associated with a very low level of economic development and insufficient environmental awareness caused by a lack of education. Environmental education becomes a cornerstone of public awareness about the environment and the solution and prevention of its problems. If sustainable development is to be achieved, all levels of the educational system must be radically reformed to incorporate environmental education. Distance education has a great sociological justification as it can help in extending and equalizing educational opportunities. Justification for the introduction of new educational technologies might be found in areas such as environmental education where there is a shortage of trained and qualified teachers or where the subjects demand visual presentation that a teacher cannot offer. Through the use of new communications technologies, access to good educational programs can greatly be extended to large audiences in rural and remote areas with tremendous flexibility in subject matter content. A multidimensional approach should use schools, radio, television, nonformal education centers, newspapers, community assemblies, nongovernmental agencies, business chambers and trade associations, and unions. Environmental issues that should be addressed through distance education are soil erosion, emissions of greenhouse gases, declining wildlands, pollution, rapid urbanization, and solid wastes. (YLB)