Ecology and Wellness engages Teacher Candidates in the study of environmental issues, concepts and environmental education pedagogy. Teacher Candidates will have opportunities to explore and investigate environmental issues at various spatial scales-‐local, provincial, national and global. The course will provide opportunities for Teacher Candidates to critically reflect on key environmental concepts including conservation, preservation, sustainability, stewardship, ecology, environmental justice, and sustainable development. It will also expose Teacher Candidates to pedagogies, resources, experiences and activities for teaching environmental education. The course is conceptualized as a unique blend of traditional classroom and field experiences and will provide learners with opportunities to be involved in the Eco‐Schools Project and other environmental education programs during their in-‐school experiences.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of the course Teacher Candidates should be able to:
- Debate and critically discuss environmental concepts, issues and perspectives/philosophies.
- Demonstrate appreciation for ecological perspectives that differ from theirs and traditional western cultures.
- Plan and execute lessons on significant environmental concepts, issues and problems/solutions. Develop, select, and effectively use a variety of appropriate resources, activities and assessments for EE.
- Develop and implement investigations of environmental issues
- Develop and articulate strategies for integrating EE across the curriculum and integrating other curriculum subjects into EE.
- Develop and articulate appropriate plans for designing EE curricula in their schools
Course Features
- Innovative, Collaborative Curriculum Planning
- Inter-‐disciplinary in Nature
- Diversified Learning Experiences
- Wide repertoire of delivery strategies -‐ instructors, guest presentations, field trips.
- Real World Relevance
- Community Engagement
- Experiential Learning Component
- Attention to alternative ecological perspectives & attitudes
- Linked to realities of Ontario society & education systems