Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel
Education systems and environmental education professionals have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp transition to distance learning that has necessitated a rapid response. Environmental education as part of a social-ecological system is dependent on the adaptability and the scop...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of the Free State
2021-03-01
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| Series: | Perspectives in Education |
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| Online Access: | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/4684 |
| _version_ | 1797265700822188032 |
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| author | Nirit Assaf Dafna Gan |
| author_facet | Nirit Assaf Dafna Gan |
| author_sort | Nirit Assaf |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Education systems and environmental education professionals have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp transition to distance learning that has necessitated a rapid response. Environmental education as part of a social-ecological system is dependent on the adaptability and the scope of the change with which the system responds to crisis. It is therefore important to explore the ways in which environmental educators choose to increase students’ proximity to nature under conditions of lockdown. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine environmental educators’ perspective on and teaching methods for implementing environmental education under distance learning conditions. To this end, we conducted 16 interviews and analysed teaching methods (e.g. videos, lesson plans and written assignments) that were used by Israeli environmental educators in March–April 2020. The findings highlight the creativity of the educators who used a variety of teaching methods, involving active/passive learning and the direct/indirect experience of nature, using nature for observation, investigation and in-depth personal, social and environmental learning. The study’s contribution stems from its exploration of the crisis from the perspective of environmental education in the context of social-ecological systems. Key findings present challenges (e.g. lack of direct outdoor interaction and feedback) and opportunities (e.g. public access to online lectures and the nationwide sharing of teaching materials) that were faced by environmental educators in Israel and that led to the development of diverse teaching methods for contending with the crisis. The study recommends incorporating diverse activities in nature, implementing outdoor teacher training for all teachers and creating professional teacher networks.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T04:42:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-da86e506164f4bf78586843b204ada92 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0258-2236 2519-593X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-25T00:48:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-03-01 |
| publisher | University of the Free State |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Perspectives in Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-da86e506164f4bf78586843b204ada922024-03-11T23:05:58ZengUniversity of the Free StatePerspectives in Education0258-22362519-593X2021-03-01391Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in IsraelNirit Assaf0Dafna Gan1Kibbutzim College of Education and the Arts, IsraelKibbutzim College of Education and the Arts, Israel Education systems and environmental education professionals have been challenged by the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp transition to distance learning that has necessitated a rapid response. Environmental education as part of a social-ecological system is dependent on the adaptability and the scope of the change with which the system responds to crisis. It is therefore important to explore the ways in which environmental educators choose to increase students’ proximity to nature under conditions of lockdown. The aim of this study, therefore, was to examine environmental educators’ perspective on and teaching methods for implementing environmental education under distance learning conditions. To this end, we conducted 16 interviews and analysed teaching methods (e.g. videos, lesson plans and written assignments) that were used by Israeli environmental educators in March–April 2020. The findings highlight the creativity of the educators who used a variety of teaching methods, involving active/passive learning and the direct/indirect experience of nature, using nature for observation, investigation and in-depth personal, social and environmental learning. The study’s contribution stems from its exploration of the crisis from the perspective of environmental education in the context of social-ecological systems. Key findings present challenges (e.g. lack of direct outdoor interaction and feedback) and opportunities (e.g. public access to online lectures and the nationwide sharing of teaching materials) that were faced by environmental educators in Israel and that led to the development of diverse teaching methods for contending with the crisis. The study recommends incorporating diverse activities in nature, implementing outdoor teacher training for all teachers and creating professional teacher networks. http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/4684Social-ecological systemsAdaptationTransformationDistance learningEnvironmental educationOutdoor learning |
| spellingShingle | Nirit Assaf Dafna Gan Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel Perspectives in Education Social-ecological systems Adaptation Transformation Distance learning Environmental education Outdoor learning |
| title | Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel |
| title_full | Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel |
| title_fullStr | Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel |
| title_full_unstemmed | Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel |
| title_short | Environmental education using distance learning during the COVID-19 lockdown in Israel |
| title_sort | environmental education using distance learning during the covid 19 lockdown in israel |
| topic | Social-ecological systems Adaptation Transformation Distance learning Environmental education Outdoor learning |
| url | http://journals.ufs.ac.za/index.php/pie/article/view/4684 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT niritassaf environmentaleducationusingdistancelearningduringthecovid19lockdowninisrael AT dafnagan environmentaleducationusingdistancelearningduringthecovid19lockdowninisrael |