Materials, Ideas, and Questions to Serve as a Basis for Preparing a Position Paper Regarding the Development and Implementation of Instructional Programs in Environmental Education (K-12).

Overview & Synopsis

The philosophy, major constraints, and strategy for curriculum development and implementation of a K-12 environmental education program are reviewed in this draft. Its purpose is to draw together some basic ideas and pertinent questions from leading educators, the literature, and successful environmental education programs, in an effort to provide a focus and point of departure in clarifying a comprehensive philosophy of environmental education and in applying the resulting concepts to the development of educational programs. Major emphasis is placed on strategy as a means of overcoming the indicated constraints. An 8-phase plan is offered. It involves reviewing literature regarding the theories of learning and instruction; creating an environmental education committee to develop, implement, and evaluate the program and facilitate communication; establishing goals and subgoals, objectives, curriculum organization, and the curriculum or instructional model; encouraging a comprehensive inservice teacher education program; and developing an instrument to evaluate the effectiveness of the environmental education program. Ideas for overcoming constraints and developing a reinforcing environment are also explored. (BL)