Archive for the 'Environmental Education' Category

Introduction

Education is extremely critical to the success of any new endeavor or project in an organization or community, especially the one which is related to an uphill task associated with the development of the particular region in question. Environmental education is one such aspect which has gained immense popularity in the last few years owing to the rapid industrial progress and advancement which has brought along a series of potential fallouts and negative impacts.

Subjects such as environmental education are successfully instructed through a series of teaching initiatives undertaken through practical study, research and training, undertaken by the faculty members as well as experts on the subject.

The Avenues

Towards this very objective, there are a vast number of choices available of enrolling in an environmental and education training center, present all over the world and offering state-of-the-art training and facilities for the purpose of ensuring adequate environmental education.

Such workshops and training centers have ongoing teaching modules that are aimed at imparting the essential environmental education to the faculty members or teachers in various institutions. Apart from the regular teaching modules at any particular environmental and education training center, there is also an option of enrolling for special events that focus particularly on a specific topic associated with environment education.

A few examples of such topics include disease-causing contaminating, diagnostic tools of pathology, disease mitigation and management, aquatic habitat restoration and many more of the like. Other examples of initiatives taken by the authorities at such an environmental and education training center include understanding the environment through conceptual diagrams and carried forward assessments through producing ecosystem health report cards in order to build community knowledge.

To add to their credibility and validity of training programmes, every particular environmental and education training center of repute will have well-established links with a vast range of industries and industry associations, both at the national as well as international level. Such clients could hail from a vast range of industries such as mining, waster, petroleum, power industries and metal industries.

An environmental and education training center is also likely to work in close coordination with both, the state and federal environmental agencies, who are also involved in projects towards the objective of environmental protection and spread of awareness and training for the purpose.

The primary objective of each of such an environmental and education training center remains to ensure maximum environmental safety and minimum damage to the natural resources. This is essentially achieved by imparting adequate education, training and providing practical training to the individuals involved in the relevant projects.

Introduction

The Pocono Environmental Education Centre is an innovative state-of-the-art, educative recreation area, especially meant for creating awareness and spread of knowledge about the natural world.

This beautiful, one of its kind destination is a special place meant for visitors of all age groups and backgrounds to come and learn more about the wonderful aspects of nature. The vast spectrums of visitors generally include students, teachers, families, Scouts, birders, botanists, photographers, hikers and many more.

The Details

Located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), the Pocono Environmental Education Centre has the study of nature and natural systems as its key focus, which is further supported by the centre’s proximity to a quarter of million acres of land, along with the National Recreation Area and numerous other state parks, forests and game lands.

The beautiful and picturesque Pocono Environmental Education Centre has a vast series of recreation facilities and entertainment opportunities for its visitors. The most famous amongst these include the Shady Hemlock gorges, the wild and scenic Delaware River, diverse lowland and upland forests, fields blooming with wildflowers, rushing waterfalls and streams, unique flora and fauna of boreal bogs, fossils which are as old as 400 million years and pond teeming with insect and amphibian life.

At the hub of all activity at the Pocono Environmental Education Centre, the Visitor Education and Administration Building Centre stand in all its magnificence. The structure houses two classrooms, a library, craft centre, darkroom, store, indoor pool offices, educational displays and also well-designed meeting areas for presentations and dances.

The vast range of outdoor resources at the Pocono Environmental Education Centre include a whopping thirteen miles of hiking trails that originate from the main campus. If the season permits, the participants many also canoe across the center’s ponds or cross-country ski through the huge pine forests. In addition, there are courses available for low ropes, orienteering, sensory awareness as well as several picnic areas and campfire sites.

Other facilities for the visitors include the housing options that are available including the comfortable forty-seven cabins which can accommodate anything from two to sixteen people on wooden bunk beds. The cabins are heated, have electricity, showers and modern bathroom facilities. To add to the attractions, there is a well-stocked Nature Library, which also offers a lot of articles online.

For those interested in a career at the Pocono Environmental Education Centre, there are various jobs and positions available, applicants for which are invited from time to time. Some of these include the jobs of an environmental education instructor, environmental education internship, summer camp counselors and weekend managers to sustainable living instructor.

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Introduction

The Pocono Environmental Education Centre is an innovative state-of-the-art, educative recreation area, especially meant for creating awareness and spread of knowledge about the natural world.

This beautiful, one of its kind destination is a special place meant for visitors of all age groups and backgrounds to come and learn more about the wonderful aspects of nature. The vast spectrums of visitors generally include students, teachers, families, Scouts, birders, botanists, photographers, hikers and many more.

The Details

Located within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DEWA), the Pocono Environmental Education Centre has the study of nature and natural systems as its key focus, which is further supported by the centre’s proximity to a quarter of million acres of land, along with the National Recreation Area and numerous other state parks, forests and game lands.

The beautiful and picturesque Pocono Environmental Education Centre has a vast series of recreation facilities and entertainment opportunities for its visitors. The most famous amongst these include the Shady Hemlock gorges, the wild and scenic Delaware River, diverse lowland and upland forests, fields blooming with wildflowers, rushing waterfalls and streams, unique flora and fauna of boreal bogs, fossils which are as old as 400 million years and pond teeming with insect and amphibian life.

At the hub of all activity at the Pocono Environmental Education Centre, the Visitor Education and Administration Building Centre stand in all its magnificence. The structure houses two classrooms, a library, craft centre, darkroom, store, indoor pool offices, educational displays and also well-designed meeting areas for presentations and dances.

The vast range of outdoor resources at the Pocono Environmental Education Centre include a whopping thirteen miles of hiking trails that originate from the main campus. If the season permits, the participants many also canoe across the center’s ponds or cross-country ski through the huge pine forests. In addition, there are courses available for low ropes, orienteering, sensory awareness as well as several picnic areas and campfire sites.

Other facilities for the visitors include the housing options that are available including the comfortable forty-seven cabins which can accommodate anything from two to sixteen people on wooden bunk beds. The cabins are heated, have electricity, showers and modern bathroom facilities. To add to the attractions, there is a well-stocked Nature Library, which also offers a lot of articles online.

For those interested in a career at the Pocono Environmental Education Centre, there are various jobs and positions available, applicants for which are invited from time to time. Some of these include the jobs of an environmental education instructor, environmental education internship, summer camp counselors and weekend managers to sustainable living instructor.

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Introduction

The range of jobs and career opportunities available to the common person has undergone a vast change over the last few decades in light of the fast-paced industrialization. This has further brought a massive modification in the demand for certain services which were earlier quite uncommon and hence, not much in supply as well.

The category of environmental education jobs is one of such most popular and latest job groups to be made available to aspirants today. From educational institutions to industrial houses, all the commercial establishments of repute now have a keen interest in employing professionals on environmental education jobs.

Key Aspects

For an individual interested in procuring one of the many environmental education jobs available it is first important to analyze the educational qualifications or any prior experience or training required. With such an increase in the demand for professional services in the field, almost all of the educational institutions of repute across the world offer state-of-the-art courses, modules and training in this field, enabling the aspiring students to apply for well-defined environmental education jobs.

Such jobs in professional and other organizations entail a vast series of functions, which range right for the streamlining of the company’s objectives with regard to environmental hazards, going up to formulating policies and measures that are meant to ensure that company follows such policies that are well in line with the stipulated rules and regulations.

To begin with, those working in the environmental education jobs are required to procure a graduate or postgraduate degree on the subject, as are the requirement of the particular field or industry he/she is interested in working with. However, most of such organizations are generally interested in taking only y the postgraduates in the subject on board, especially those who have attained some form of specialization in any of the specific fields.

Once the educational qualifications have been ascertained, the interested aspirants then need to shortlist the specific industry they would like to work in one of the many environmental education jobs available. In this context, the first choice is usually that of a job in the teaching sector wherein there is now a great demand for teachers to work on environmental education jobs. This is especially true in wake of the rising demand for such professionals in private and public sector alike.

Lastly, when deciding to take up one of the many environmental education jobs, it is also important that an individual analyze his/her own specific line of interest and try and choose for a career accordingly in the specific industry.

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Introduction

The patterns and norms of conventional education have undergone a major metamorphosis in the last few years. There has been a dramatic change in the category of courses as well as the medium of instruction in which the knowledge regarding these courses might be imparted.

Computers have taken over the way in which education is imparted in the modern times. From mere notebooks and paperwork, education is now conducted through the medium of technology to a major extent.

Correlation and Significance

In the present times, when the stress being laid on the concepts such as environmental education is on a constant rise, it has become extremely important to take up the training of such concepts through modern means of communication, such as the computers.

Environmental education and computers games have a close correlation due to the fact that it such education is most important at an early age when the students are just in the elementary section. However, with the advent of technology, the students have developed the art of picking up the knowledge in a much better and quicker way through computers than any other medium.

There are a vast range of activities and interactive games that demonstrate the correlation of environmental education in schools in a good way. For instance, Green Planet, is an interactive computer game, in which the player is required to develop a greenhouse on the computer, using images and pictures available from a bank of resources given along with.

Similarly, the Wild Chase, another similar game has a challenge for the players to match the animals’ body parts such as horns and tails to that of the names provided, using animated pictures on the computer. A few other famous packages that explain the connection between environmental education in schools in a much better way include the Aquatic Breather, Smoke Killer, Ablaze Run and many more.

In fact, there have been a series of research campaigns that have been taken up to analyze the correlation between environmental education and computer games. One of such recent studies studied the knowledge of environmental concepts between two student groups, one having studied thoroughly through books and other having studied thought he medium of computers. The study concluded that the group which had used the computers to learn the concepts of environmental education had a much more sound and effective knowledge of the concepts than those who had used only books.

The correlation of environmental education and computer games can be well explained in light of the fact that students, especially the young learners always respond better to ways of learning that are more interactive and fun to use.

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Introduction

Information is power and those who have a hold over the valuable relevant information and the expertise on how to impart it to the right audiences have an immensely important tool in their hands.

The above holds especially true for the innovative modern-day educational concepts that are aimed at making an individual adept in the topics of national and international importance, even imparting eligibility to take up professional careers in context of the same.

The Correlation

As an ideological instance of the same, the correlation between media and its role in imparting environmental education to its audiences stands as a testimony to how powerful can the impact of information be.

To begin with, media and its various channels are first important in their role of spreading awareness and information on the various aspects of environmental education. Having a strong readership and viewership, the various channels of media are the perfect medium to spread the message of environmental education. The role of media in environmental education can be well gauged from the fact that almost all of the major business houses, political groups and social organizations use special promotional clips and programmes to promote the message of environmental education through this medium. Whether it is print media, electronic mode or the web, messages and educational documentaries regarding environmental education abound on each of the mediums, clearly laying out the role of media in environmental education for the onlooker.

Moving on, another most important role of media in environmental education is essayed in its importance in bringing the defaulters of the matter to book and also highlighting the ill-practices that might be carried out by such individuals or organizations. By giving adequate publicity to the defaulters’ actions and the steps taken against them or penalties charged therein, the authorities can manage to set a good example for others who might default at some other time.

The role of media in environmental education is also reflected in its ability to spread awareness regarding the government’s rules, regulations and any direction regarding the matter. The public in general remains quite unaware of any new legislation or order declared by the government unless it is broadcast well on the various popular channels of media which are watched by millions across the globe.

Similarly, the role of media in environmental education is also extremely helpful for an ordinary citizen who can simply use this medium to air his/her grievance regarding the matter to even share important tips or guidelines for environmental protection through the various channels of media.

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Introduction

Environmental education and training is one of the most effective and strong methods to ensure that all the sets of the desirable code of practice and legislation are followed which have been duly laid down in the larger interests of the environment.

However, to ensure the right implementation and formation of such guidelines, there are certain set of guidelines that govern the activity of this sector of the industry. However, the most important aspect of the guidelines for this are those associated with the processes involved in the training and environmental education.

Key Aspects

The principles and ethics of environmental education revolve around the entire gamut of the process of environment training, expertise and education. To begin with, one of the first ethics of environmental education is that all the basics of effective environmental education should be planned and developed through interactive materials for learners as well as educators. Government reports reveal that the capacity and lack of relevant and appropriate resource materials remain a major flaw in the system and negatively affect the implementation of environmental education program.

There are various publications and series of information material available that discuss and analyze the concept of ethics of environmental education. Apart from giving basic education and information about the ethics of environmental education, such publications also encourage universities to enhance their role in shaping the society’s future and seeking solutions to the various environmental and developmental challenges faced by communities across the e world.

Moreover, the special courses offered on the ethics of environmental education also give a broad overview of the concept of sustainable development, at the same time introducing teachers and managers to the range of possibilities for action that are currently available in teaching, research, community engagement and management.

The related study reports also examine the link and correlation between the ethics of environmental education and the everyday activities. With the processes and queries targeted at environmental educators, teachers, professors and students of environmental education, the ethics of environmental education go a long way in clarifying the basic concepts and imparting training about the very core of environmental education.

Another important aspect of ethics of environmental education is to ensure proper and righteous dissemination of information to all the classes of audience for whom the required set of information might be important enough. For instance, the code of ethics lays down that children, as a special group must be educated about their environment and all other related important aspects such as pollution and water early on in their lives so that they can understand and follow the concept of environmental protection in the right sense.

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Introduction

Sound early education forms the very basis of a well-informed and conscientious individual who behaves with maturity and responsibility towards his surroundings.

In today’s fast-paced world, where rapid business and economic growth is leading to a vast range of repercussions on the environment and the surroundings around, it has become all the more important to impart adequate knowledge to the younger generations about ways to protect the environment and encourage healthier practices.

The Significance

The initiative to take up environmental education in schools has been taken on with full force, both by the school authorities as well as the administration.

The main aim of the environmental education in schools is to primarily teach the students to learn to protect the planet, promote environmental stewardship and in the process teach students how to economize on and maximize the potential of the resources available.

The methods adopted for the environmental education in schools vary in accordance with the geographical location and also the category of students being dealt with. However, there are two main categories of methods in which environmental education in schools is basically conducted. The first and foremost method is to conduct formal education based on syllabus and course books. Such books will generally cover all the basic as well as advanced concepts of environmental education. The elementary course material for environmental education in schools also covers details of how the industry is negatively affecting the environment around and what are the steps and precautions required to avoid and prevent the same.

The second and often more effective method of conducting environmental education in schools is to follow the method of practical teaching, in which a series of games, experiments and other fun-filled activities are organized in order to demonstrate the importance of a healthy environment in life.

Such activities generally include themed songs, plays, skits, poems and drawings, along with other art and craft activities which have a focus to enhance the learning of the concepts of environmental education amongst the students.

Apart from the basic sense of environmental awareness, there are various other concepts that are taught by the modules on environmental education in schools. A few instances of the same include the greenhouse effect, air and noise pollution, local and legislative controls that have been laid down to protect and manage the environment.

Most important of all, the main concept being taught through environmental education in schools is to teach the students about the basic correlation between the environment and human life and how a negative impact on one can actually harm the other.

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Introduction

The changing trends in the field of industry and commercial activity have reflected themselves quite clearly in the way new and supportive industries have come up along with. Such a rapid pace of economic growth has also brought along with it a series of fallouts and negative impacts, leading to the need of newer initiatives such as creating awareness about environmental safety and the practices required to observe the same.

In such a scenario, it has become extremely important to pursue concrete environmental education programs in all types of organizations such as schools, colleges and production houses of all categories.

The Basics

As a process, the goals of environmental education centre on the twin objective of improving the surrounding environment as well as protecting the environment from the onslaught of negative impacts which are generally brought on by such economic progress.

The key goals of environmental education are to develop a world population that is aware of, and concerned about, the environment and its related problems. In addition, the goal is to develop a cluster of citizens who have the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivation and commitment to work individually and collectively towards solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones.

The most critical goal of environmental education is to ensure that the necessary information, guidelines and training is imparted to children and adolescents regarding the ill practices that might harm the environment in the longer run. In addition, another important goal of environmental education is to educate the industrial production houses about the safer practices that need to be followed in order to ensure that minimum damage occurs to their surroundings and environment.

It is an agreed fact the problem of environmental hazards has reached massive proportions in today’s times. In such circumstances, it is almost impossible for a handful officials and authorities to handle the situation effectively. It is here that the goal of environmental education to create adequate awareness amongst various user groups becomes all the more critical. The aim is to educate those who are involved at the helm of affairs at locations which are the main causes of environmental hazards. If an appropriate measure of environmental education is imparted, then the goal of environmental education to minimize harm to the environment can be achieved effectively.

In addition, there are various environmental education projects that are engaged in different sets of objectives to be accomplished. However in order to meet desired goals of environmental education, these projects should be based on sound science and should enhance critical-thinking, and problem-solving techniques of the group in question.

Introduction

An increased awareness of one’s surroundings coupled by a further rise in consciousness to the environment has now led to a great demand for environment education specialists who can cater to the needs of various organizations in this category.

The job of an environment education specialist entails jobs of various kinds and natures, focused typically towards the target of maintaining and ensuring environment-friendly practices for the entire work system.

Key Roles

To begin with, an environment education specialist is responsible for creating awareness of the basic relationships between human activity and natural environment. This primarily involves developing and promoting strategies that are intended to encourage others to make responsible choices regarding consumer decisions, government policies and corporate responsibilities.

There are a vast range of other special duties that are to be performed by the environment education specialists working in a particular organization. Conducting research on specific issues such as consumerism, lifestyle choices, resource development, wildlife management and forestry is one of the fist duties enlisted. Others include assimilating environmental information from many sources and making it understandable to others though written articles and presentations, teaching course and leading workshops on the subject.

Such specialists are also responsible for interpreting natural and human history through field study groups and school programs, educating the public though newspaper, magazine, radio, television and internet. Most importantly, an environment education specialist is responsible for integrating environmental education into traditional subject areas such as science, social studies, economics, language arts and mathematics.

Besides, there are various areas of specialized activities that the environment education specialists might choose to enroll in. These might include providing information about consumer goods and services that might influence living or purchasing habits, providing information that empowers people to take action of the environment in the work place and building capacity in communities, schools and businesses to create and deliver their own environmental education programs.

For an individual to qualify and train as an environment education specialist, he/she also needs to have a set of important personal characteristics in order to perform the job well.

The most important amongst these include strong interpersonal, communication and problem solving skills, interest in environmental issues, analytical skills required to determine the validity of information, strong writing skills, ability to work collaboratively with diverse groups of people and research and consulting skills that might be required to assess needs and develop potential action plans.

Some of the most prominent organizations employing such environment education specialists include the environmental and conservation societies, naturalist clubs, school boards, outdoor education enters and government departments.

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