Environmental Science is one of the branches of science that deals with the study of interactions among living organisms and their functions in an ecosystem. It uses some concepts and knowledge from the other field of science such as chemistry, geology, and physics. Environmental Science teachers should have broad understanding of biology and ecology with emphasis on ecosystems, explain types of pollution and different industrial outputs. Integration of environmental issues in our curriculum gives understanding to the economic aspect of the different problems, come up with solutions and formulation of environmental laws. Environmental Science Teacher plays important role in equipping the learners with full knowledge and reasoning skills needed to answer the high impact questions and applying principles of natural resources management.
Teaching Environmental Science incalculate in the minds of individual the different changes that occur in our atmosphere, shape of our community, threatening disasters and most of all the problem of climate change. Varieties of techniques and strategies can be used in teaching and learning environmental science. Students have different skills and learning styles, thus, the teacher must be careful in choosing approach for every topic to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn. Collaborative learning is one of the techniques providing the learners to share their ideas and acquire information among the group. Small group discussion and brainstorming give opportunities for students to learn from one another and helps build mutual respect and cooperation on their tasks like for example the impact of climate change in our ecosystem, the role of each individual in maintaining ecological balance and the different ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Poster making, slogan, essay writing help learners feel free to express ideas about environmental issues which develops their thinking skills in proper usage of energy and water, waste disposal and recycling practices. Outdoor activity is another way of learning which provides students high quality of inquiring knowledge beyond the walls of the learning area which provides the students to appreciate their first hand experiences. Experiences outside the classroom enhances the ability of the students in the different scientific processes such as observing, inferring, comparing, collecting, analyzing and solving problems while investigating forestry issues.
Assessment in learning Environmental Science is also important in teaching-learning process to find out what the students know about, what they understand, what they can do, to evaluate learning outcomes and to know if the students are able to make right decisions in facing environmental issues and understand the sustainable development about learning ways to go forward in a changing world in order to respond to the sustainability challenges that we face, no matter where we might live in the world.
By: Jejet I. Adriano | T-I | MNHS-CABCABEN
