In the year 2010, environmental consciousness is more needed than ever before. We have known since 1962 from Rachael Carson’s Silent Spring that we have an effect on our environment. But what is the environment any way? Is it any space in between matter? A place which we live work eat play and worship? However we define it, it must be protected. I personally believe that the best form of environmental protection is education through the understanding and experience of the natural world. Aldo Leopold captures the true meaning of the fine balance of ecological consciousness in this quote:
“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” – Aldo Leopold.
My name is Robert Hicks, and I am a graduating senior at Western State College of Colorado in Gunnison Colorado. I study Environmental Studies and Outdoor Leadership. With these two combined I have been able to shape my environmental philosophies and hone in my experiential education knowledge, to make needed environmental change, that I feel is greatly accelerated by education. I have participated in my Outdoor Leadership classes where I have taught many environmental lessons, such as sustainability, biomes, Leave No Trace, and astronomy in an active outdoor setting. I have been working on a Leave No Trace Master Educator certification. This would allow me to be able to host my own Leave No Trace Trainer course. A Leave No Trace Trainer must complete a two-day experienced based class and participants receive introductory training in Leave No Trace skills and ethics.
With this blog I hope to develop my own personal teaching experiences while possibly helping others as well. I will post entries in which I will explain the topic of the environmental lesson, how the lesson will be executed, any activities and lesson plans that go with the topic. Some goals that I have for this blog are to be able to archive my lessons and activities for reference to myself and others. I would like to be able to work on lessons and get constructive feedback on my lessons and lesson plans. Not only that but a place that the concept of environmental awareness stemming from the root of experiential education.
“A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise.” – Aldo Leopold.
I have included the lesson plan template that I use in structuring each lesson. Some blog post may have this included and others may not. I will post lesson that I have completed as well as lessons that I am planning on having. With the lessons that are in the planning phase I would love to hear comments on what other students and educators think.
Lesson Plan Template:
Name of lesson:
Three outcomes projected from lesson, and tactics used to achieve those outcomes:
1)
2)
3)
Three goals as an educator, you hope to gain from this lesson:
1)
2)
3)
Materials needed:
Safety considerations:
Environmental concerns:
Class content and flow:
Objectives for target audience:
Field trip opportunities:
Duration:
Methods of assessment:
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As I told you in class, this sounds like exactly the kind of thing that people potentially interested in your class--but not yet willing to commit--would want to know. This is the kind of concrete, useful information that will help people decide whether or not they want to contact you face-to-face.
ReplyDeleteI think one thing that it would be helpful to do is identify your audience as quickly as possible, and to name the people who would be most interested in your writing, either under the title or in the 'about' column. That way, new visitors won't have to look very far before they discover who you are and what you're doing.
Another thing you might want to consider, and that I didn't have time to go over much in class, is using either your sidebar or your profile to more efficiently label your lesson plans. If students are looking for a particular lesson plan, they shouldn't have to look very far.