ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION - Meaning, Characteristics and Focal Aspect

 

 è ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION:

ª Meaning:

Environmental education is a learning process that allows individuals to explore environmental issues, engage in problem solving, and take action to improve the environment. As a result, individuals develop a deeper understanding of environmental issues and have the skills to make informed and responsible decisions.

ª Characteristics of Environmental Education:

Ø It is a life - long process

Ø It is interdisciplinary and holistic in nature and its application.

Ø It is an approach to education as a whole, rather than a subject.

Ø It is a process of recognizing the interrelatedness among human, his cultural and biological surroundings.

Ø It appears to be a process that equips human with awareness, skills-attitudes, values and commitments to improve environment.

Ø It refers to the knowledge and understanding of physical, biological, cultural and psychological environment and to perceive its relevance for real life situation.

Ø It identifies the imbalances of environment a try to improve it in view of sustainable development.

Ø It entails practice in decision making and self-formulations of a code of behaviour about problems and issues concerning environmental quality.

ª Focal Aspects of Environmental Education:

There are 6 focal aspects of environmental education

§  Natural Resources Problems and solutions

§  Environmental pollutions and hazards

§  Important environmental problems

§  Environmental conservation policies and programmes

§  Environmental management and protection

§  Incorporation of environmental education in the school curriculum

         Natural Resources, Problems and solutions

▬  renewable & non – renewable resources

▬  ex: land, water, minerals, forest, air…

▬  Problems: – landslides, soil -erosion, desertification, deforestation, over exploitation of ground water, sewage and agricultural discharges, mono crop culture, over fishing, depletion of fuel resources….

▬  Solutions: -

›  Conserving the biodiversity

›  Energy saving

›  Reducing the usage of paper

›  Avoiding plastic items ……

         Environmental pollution and hazards:

▬  Environmental Pollution

›  Land pollution, Water pollution, Air pollution, Noise pollution

▬  Environmental hazards and Disasters

› Earthquake, Tsunami, Landslide, volcano explosion, flood, cyclone, forest fire, nuclear accidents, industrial accidents…..

         Important environmental problems:

▬  Global warming

▬  Greenhouse effect

▬  Depletion of ozone layer

▬  Acid rain

▬  Extinction of flora and fauna

         Environmental conservation policies and programmes:

▬  Environment conservation laws

▬  Creation of gene banks

▬  Solar power projects

▬  Rainwater harvesting

▬  Development of social forest

         Environmental management and protection:

▬  Soil management

▬  Water management

▬  Waste management

▬  Disaster management

▬  Establishment of international organizations

▬  Environmental movements in India

▬  Functioning of NGO’s

Incorporation of environmental education in the school curriculum:

• To develop environmental awareness, attitude and skills for solving environmental problem
• Providing environmental education at various levels of Education
• Approaches in providing environmental education
• Ways and means of integrating environmental education in the curriculum
• Guidelines to include environmental education at school level
• Problems faced in imparting environmental education

Related: Playlist-  Environmental Education here.

Kirthi's Exam Insight:

"To achieve full marks on the Meaning and Focal Aspects of Environmental Education, you must define it as a lifelong, interdisciplinary process. Do not treat it as just a single subject; explain that it is an 'Approach to Education' as a whole.

Presentation Tip: Use a Spider Diagram to represent the 6 Focal Aspects (Natural Resources, Pollution, Global Issues, Policies, Management, and Curriculum). This visual structure makes your answer easy for the examiner to grade.

Topper's Secret: Always include the keyword 'Sustainable Development' in your conclusion. Highlighting that environmental education aims to balance human needs with nature's safety shows a professional depth that is essential for scoring the highest marks!"