- Discuss how teaching strategies can influence learning of a deeper understanding of sustainability as a process for change
- Describe pedagogical practices for implementing EfS across the curriculum
Title: The importance of education for sustainability in early childhood For this essay you will need to: ● Justify the importance of education for sustainability (EfS) for early childhood education, analysing a range of perspectives. ● Discuss how teaching strategies can influence learning of a deeper understanding of sustainability as a process for change ● Describe pedagogical practices for implementing EfS across the curriculum I already finished the first question, so dont do that. Just write the introduction, and answer 2 and 3rd question. Conclusion as well. Reference style is Apa 7 An important element for creating a more prosperous environment is high quality education. There are numerous benefits of sustainability education in early childhood care. Firstly, it aims to raise understanding and awareness towards sustainable practices and to build schools and students capable of thinking critically and providing solutions for sustainable living methods (AAEE, 2016). Secondly, it plays a fundamental role in developing an individual's personality. It develops basic life skills such as leadership, interaction, and strategic planning in children. For instance, it increases the chances of a student to participate in constructive conversation and motivate them to achieve their planned sustainable goal (UNESCO,2008). Thirdly, education for sustainability can make students to be more environmentally friendly (Nayar,2013). Applying sustainability motivates children to create awareness, investigate values and grow environmental understanding and its relationship to their worlds (Acecqa,2016). For instance, UAE school students have encouraged their educator to install water dispensers in the lobby, and even requested fellow students to carry reusable bottles (Nayar,2013). Fourthly, sustainability education can lead to several changes in the way of thinking, lifestyle, and restoring the planet (Elliot,2019). Infact, it's an excellent way to show kindness and love towards the earth by interacting and viewing the environment. This can be achieved by setting up the activities such as composting bins, differentiating recycled items, harvesting vegetables and fruits, and watering the plants (Little Zak's Academy,2020). Furthermore, Children bonding with the environment can help to develop a sense of caring. They will start caring, respecting, and understanding the living things. Additionally, the best method to implement this is by watering the plants as this activity will teach them to observe, find solutions to several problems, and ask the questions. It can improve a child's scientific reasoning (Little Zak’s Academy,2020). In the next, Children will learn to show appreciation and will pay attention to the environment. Additionally, it will teach children their role of becoming the planet's young caretakers. Children will learn new environmental interests and build lifelong ties to the environment. www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au ECSFC102A Sustainability in Early Childhood Week 5 Lecture www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Recap of last week Pedagogical approaches for ECEfS • Embedding sustainability in early childhood settings • Program and practices • Educator’s thinking and actions • Partnerships with families 2 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Topic: Pedagogical practices in EfS • Nature based learning approach • Intentional teaching • Project -based practices 3 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Sustainability can take place in the most natural way in our professional pedagogy and in the way we provide and facilitate learning experiences for young children(Sneddon & Pettit,2016). johnbrotch-p.schools.nsw.gov.au (n.d.). 4 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach A nature-based approach is where learning is occurring in the context of nature. There are many models that are considered to have a nature- based learning approach internationally and nationally. • Nature-based preschools • Forest Preschools /Kindergartens • Bush Kinder Education for sustainability (EfS) and nature-based learning are an integral part of an early childhood curriculum. Nature-based takes place through first hand experiences outdoors in a natural setting such as parks, bushland, beaches or other local natural environments. “Approaches we already use in our work with children, like those outlined in the Early Years Learning Framework(EYLF),can help us explore the ecological footprint and social handprint”(Sneddon & Pettit,2016,p.10). 5 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach Taking Infants and Toddlers outdoors Early childhood settings are an ideal place to assist infants and toddlers to come into contact with nature. It is thinking about what is outside your door. “There are so many things children can learn from touching, smelling, hearing, tasting, and seeing. For example, children can learn by experiencing wind, sunshine, birds singing, and the feel of grass” (Adams,2013).This can occur even if it is within an urban community. It is about children observing ,interacting and the human-nature connections they develop and learning to become custodians of the Earth. 6 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Discussion: What would a nature based program look like to you ? 7 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach Watch nature-based learning in Scotland. Auchlone Nature Kindergarten, Scotland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxWlPeUu6x4 Planning learning at Auchlone Nature Kindergarten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay3zwrI9hRM Auchlone Tour with Claire Warden https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vwyr_6SYIw 8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxWlPeUu6x4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay3zwrI9hRM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vwyr_6SYIw www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach Watch nature-based education in the USA. Nature-Based Education Outdoor Preschool Forest Kindergarten https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJQ5XzxzGj4 “As the nature preschool movement blossoms the world over, many traditional preschools and childcare centres are also embracing the benefits of nature-based early childhood education” (Lubinski,2018). Watch nature-based education in Australia. Bush Preschool https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ynJMvo4zZw Australia has had a growing bush kindergarten movement allowing children to become empowered as they engage in various types of connections with nature. “In natural playspaces, there is always something new for children to discover and respond to” (Davis,2015,p.45). 9 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJQ5XzxzGj4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ynJMvo4zZw www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach Watch nature-based education in Australia. Bush Kinder https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddCkKqq54CQ Forest School in Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEy6I2e56BE Australia has had a growing bush kindergarten movement allowing children to become empowered as they engage in various types of connections with nature. “In natural playspaces, there is always something new for children to discover and respond to” (Davis,2015,p.45). 10 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddCkKqq54CQ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEy6I2e56BE www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) guides us to use an inclusive holistic approach to teaching and learning that involves nature-based learning. “This is an approach that fosters a healthy self-image, respectful relationships and respect for the world in which we live” (Davis,2015,p.78).This can broaden their understanding as they observe, notice and res[pond to change. “For both adults and children to potentially feel empowered to live sustainably, they need opportunities to experience relationships of belonging with the Earth”(Elliott,p.9). 11 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Nature based learning approach Education for sustainability (EfS) is about creating opportunities for children to connect and engage with nature which can improve developmental outcomes and a sense of health and wellbeing. The sensory stimulation encountered in nature is rich, meaningful and authentic. It provides and experience that is active, tangible and intimate. 12 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching Intentional teaching occurs when an early childhood educator is ‘deliberate, purposeful and thoughtful in their decisions and actions’(DEEWR,2009,p.45). This provides educators with an opportunity to assist young children learn about sustainability (Sneddon and Pettit, 2016). How do we do this in practice? 13 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching Everyone in an early childhood service should be involved in Education for Sustainability(EfS).This includes children, educators, support staff, families, visitors, community and students. For educators this can be through authentic, meaningful intentional teaching (Elliott,2014). 14 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching We can support and facilitate and promote sustainability by: • Encouraging children to notice was is going on around them • Showing them sustainable ways of doing things • Choosing books and other resources that include simple sustainability concepts that stimulate ideas and things to discuss • Prompting and questioning • Guiding them to use their imagination to help their understanding (Sneddon and Pettit,2016,p.10-11). 15 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching Examples from the field 1. Intentional teaching and EfS with Under 2’s Kaarin Wilkinson, Director Waite Campus Children’s Centre. The University of Adelaide. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/childcare/waite/sustainability/Intentional_teachi ng_and_EfS_with_under_2.pdf 16 https://www.adelaide.edu.au/childcare/waite/sustainability/Intentional_teaching_and_EfS_with_under_2.pdf www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au 17 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au 18 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au 19 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching Examples from the field 2.Teachable Moments 2-3 year old's Kathy Hampton, Assistant Director and educator Room 2, Waite Campus Children’s Centre. The University of Adelaide. https://www.adelaide.edu.au/childcare/waite/sustainability/Teachable_Momen ts.pdf 20 https://www.adelaide.edu.au/childcare/waite/sustainability/Teachable_Moments.pdf www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au 21 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au 22 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au 23 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching Effective early childhood pedagogy allows intentional teaching to involve deliberate planning of experiences which have a very clear focus on learning and respond to learning opportunities (Arthur et al,.2018).Therefore educators must know when to use a given strategy to accommodate the different learning styles and the specific content they are learning when it comes to EfS. This also means going beyond the obvious and having a broader view. 24 www.tafensw.edu.au/degrees Moodle: courses.highered.tafensw.edu.au Intentional Teaching EfS and meaningful links to the EYLF “a point for careful consideration is to look beyond the obvious such as Outcome 2: Children are connected with and contribute to their world” (Elliott,2014,p.15). “An early childhood community that fully embraces education for sustainability goes beyond