James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2001

ED4944:04

Environmental Education for the Tropics

Townsville, Cairns

20 lectures, 10 tutorials, 10 hours field work. Second semester flexible delivery only.

This subject introduces students to issues in and approaches to environmental education with a particular emphasis on the tropical environment. It reviews the range of approaches to curriculum and pedagogy in environmental education and develops relevant skills of curriculum development and teaching, including experiential learning through field based activities. Students will consider the contribution of current theory and practice in environmental education to a range of issues associated with the tropical environment, such as community awareness of sustainability, heritage and wilderness values and implications for formal and informal education, educational tourism and public policy on the tropical environment.

Learning Objectives:

  1. critically review approaches to environmental education and their relevance to education in the tropics;
  2. develop skills and understandings of curriculum development and teaching relevant to environmental education in the tropics;
  3. identify implications of environmental education for policy and practice in related areas of formal and informal education.

Assessment by research report presentation (50%); curriculum development project (50%).