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Research to Practice, Practice to Research

Redesigning an environmental curriculum for student engagement

Connected Science Learning January/February 2024

By , , ,

Apart from equipping learners with 21st-century skills, environmental science (ES) education fosters problem-solving, creativity, critical thinking, and a sense of responsibility and agency in children. Community science centres contribute to ES education by stirring up interest, enthusiasm, and awareness in both science and environmental issues; however, they face challenges. This case study uses narrative inquiry to explore how two preservice teachers identified opportunities for improvement at a community science centre, and how they consequently redesigned the curriculum to improve teaching and learning. The pedagogical opportunities for improvement at the Science Centre covered learner experiences, teaching experiences and backgrounds, scaffolded learning, learner engagement with resources, learner connections, and programming at the centre. The successful curriculum redesign was influenced by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) model, which provided strategies for improvement. Our findings highlight pedagogical strategies and recommendations to improve ES curricula for young learners at informal learning centres.

Environmental Science Labs Life Science Teaching Strategies Informal Education

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