Environmental Education

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Environmental Education

When forming a curriculum, teachers need to determine three types of objectives- fact, skill, and appreciation for something. The “appreciation for” objective is the one that an environmental class stresses. Environmental courses emphasize the importance of conserving the Earth by creating environmental responsibility, evokes morals. In conservation, we have to decide what is important and certain actions we want to take to preserve what we feel is important. That’s why it is crucial for teachers to decide what is necessary to include in an environmental curriculum to create sensitivity and teach ethical problems. Teachers need to teach the three viewpoints that one could take on the environment. Once these ideas are taught, they need to be explained according to the logic behind the ideas; the students themselves need to be shown realistic examples and to feel connected to the environment. By doing this, the teacher is helping the student to form environmental morals that are necessary to form an opinion on issues that affect the Earth.

The first part of the curriculum that needs to be established is a clear definition of each viewpoint. Anthropocentrism, biocentrism, and egocentrism need to be clearly defined in order to provide the students with the basics to form a knowledgeable decision as to which paradigm they are going to adopt.

Anthropocentrism is defined as “a world view that considers humans to be the most important factor and value in the Universe” (Anthropocentrism). Students need a clear understanding how this definition extends to worldview; so, more than a definition, they need to know what details compose this view. They need to know that anthropocentrism is primarily a mechanistic ...

... middle of paper ...

...ing sustainably, and having environmental sensitivity.

Works Cited

• “Could Coccolithophores Save the Earth from Global Warming?" http://www.dofollownet.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010. .

• "Anthropocentrism ." Science Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010. .

• Attfield, Robin. "Biocentrism." Oracle ThinkQuest Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010. .

• Factor, Lance. "Ethical Worldviews." Environmental Ethics . Knox College. GDH, Galesburg. 25 Mar. 2010. Lecture.

• Rowe, J. Stan. "Ecocentrism: The Chord that Harmonizes Humans and Earth." Ecospherics Ethics. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 May 2010. .

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