Abstract
This chapter describes how the Environmental Education (EE) course at Lehigh University uses a hybrid approach of instruction using web-based activities and face-to-face site-based experiences to primarily focus on the study of environmental issues in the Lehigh River watershed. Course activities are discussed to illustrate how technology can be used effectively to support EE teaching and learning with prospective and current science teachers. Site visits to areas of environmental concern support and extend the environmental education concepts and skills that are initially developed with web-based materials. Course activities provide teachers with an in-depth content understanding of local environmental issues as well as opportunities to explore pedagogical strategies to promote issues-based approaches to learning. Course materials also take advantage of easily available geospatial information technologies to foster spatial literacy in the curriculum and support learners with the ability to make use of data visualizations for analysis and interpretation when examining environmental issues such as sprawl and land use decision-making. Advantages to using web-enhanced learning environments for EE instruction are discussed.
Keywords
- Geographic Information System
- Environmental Issue
- Urban Heat Island
- Environmental Education
- Environmental Literacy
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Ballantyne, R., & Bain, J. (1995). Enhancing environmental conceptions: an evaluation of structured controversy learning units. Studies in Higher Education, 20(3), 293–303.
Bodzin, A. (2008). Integrating instructional technologies in a local watershed investigation with urban elementary learners. The Journal of Environmental Education, 39(2), 47–57.
Bodzin, A., & Anastasio, D. (2006). Using web-based GIS for earth and environmental systems education. The Journal of Geoscience Education, 54(3), 295–300.
Bodzin, A., & Cates, W. (2003). Enhancing preservice teachers’ understanding of Web-based scientific inquiry. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 14(4), 237–257.
Bodzin, A., & Cirucci, L. (2009). Integrating geospatial technologies to examine urban land use change: A design partnership. Journal of Geography, 108(4–5), 186–197.
Bogner, F. X. (1998). The influence of short-term outdoor ecology education on long-term variables of environmental perspective. Journal of Environmental Education, 29(4), 17–29.
Crompton, J. L., & Sellar, C. (1981). Do outdoor education experiences contribute to positive development in the affective domain? The Journal of Environmental Education, 12(4), 21–29.
Diaz, R. J., & Rosenberg, R. (2008 August). Spreading dead zones and consequences for marine ecosystems. Science, 321(5891), 926–929.
Environmental Literacy Council. (2007). Resources for Environmental Literacy. Arlington, VA: NSTA Press.
Fisman, L. (2005). The effects of local learning on environmental awareness in children: An empirical investigation. The Journal of Environmental Education, 36(3), 39–50.
Grasha, A., & Yangarber-Hicks, N. (2000). Integrating teaching styles and learning styles with instructional technology. College Teaching, 48(1), 2–10.
Howe, R. W., & Disinger, J. F. (1988). Teaching environmental education using out-of-school settings and mass media. (ERIC/SMEAC Environmental Education Digest No. 1). Columbus OH: ERIC Clearinghouse for Science Mathematics and Environmental Education.
Kunkle, D. R. (2004). Lehigh Gap History and Restoration. Slatington, PA: Wildlife Information Center.
Lisowski, M., & Disinger, J. F. (1991). The effect of field-based instruction on student understandings of ecological concepts. The Journal of Environmental Education, 23, 19–23.
Lucking, R. A., Christmann, E. P., & Whitting, M. J. (2008). Make your own mashup maps. Science Scope, 31(8), 58–61.
Moore, C. J., & Huber, R. A. (2001). Support for EE from the National Science Education Standards and the Internet. The Journal of Environmental Education, 32(3), 21–25.
National Research Council. (2006). Learning to think spatially: GIS as a support system in K-12 education. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
North American Association for Environmental Education. (2000). Environmental education materials: Guidelines for excellence workbook; Bridging theory and practice. Rock Springs, GA: NAAEE.
North American Association for Environmental Education. (2004). Guidelines for the initial preparation of environmental educators. Rock Springs, GA: NAAEE.
Orion, N., & Hofstein, A. (1991). The measurement of students’ attitudes towards scientific field trips. Science Education, 75, 513–523.
Orion, N., & Hofstein, A. (1994). Factors that influence learning during a scientific field trip in a natural environment. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 31, 1097–1119.
Pennock, M. T., & Bardwell, L. V. (1994). Approaching environmental issues in the classroom. Ann Arbor, MI: University of Michigan.
Sobel, D. (2004). Place-based education: Connecting classrooms and communities. Great Barrington, MA: The Orion Society.
Wright, J. M. (2008). Web-based versus in-class: An exploration of how instructional methods influence postsecondary students’ environmental literacy. The Journal of Environmental Education, 39(2), 33–45.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Bodzin, A.M. (2010). Integrating Web-based Activities and Site-based Experiences to Investigate Environmental Issues. In: Bodzin, A., Shiner Klein, B., Weaver, S. (eds) The Inclusion of Environmental Education in Science Teacher Education. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9222-9_22
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-90-481-9222-9_22
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-90-481-9221-2
Online ISBN: 978-90-481-9222-9
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawEducation (R0)