Climate Education
The Subtle Art of Teaching Teachers to Teach Climate Education
August 15, 2024
We cannot teach what we do not know, which is why professional development for teachers is so important. It may come in different forms, and it may be carried out in different ways, but it’s about continuously educating teachers so they can stay current with new subjects and innovative teaching methods.
For educators to teach effectively, they need to be equipped with the latest research and practices. In the U.S., it is common practice for staff educators to be based in schools with the primary purpose of making sure teachers are fully up-to-date, both in terms of new topics or new ways of teaching existing subjects. Sometimes this involves after hours teacher training sessions, sometimes it means external experts coming into schools to share lessons.
It is crucial for educators to keep gathering knowledge if they want to teach with fidelity. First, it equips teachers with the latest research and practices, enabling them to convey accurate information to their students. Secondly, it fosters interdisciplinary teaching methods, encouraging connections between different topics and, most importantly for the work of EARTHDAY.ORG, it’s the means for showing educators how to teach climate change across a range of subjects, from math class to art to science to English.
Ongoing professional development also empowers educators to cope with diverse student perspectives and to promote critical thinking skills. Ultimately, investing in educators’ training ensures they can effectively prepare students to become informed, proactive citizens in the face of very real climate challenges.
The Case for Climate Education, an EARTHDAY.ORG report, reveals that over 86% of educators want to teach climate change, 84% of parents want them to teach it as well and 65% of students are keen to learn it. But educators need opportunities to expand their own knowledge on the subject first and gain real resources to take back to their classrooms.
We know that most people want to understand what is happening to our changing planet and more critically, they want their kids too as well. We want to be part of that process which is why we have been championing the teaching of climate education in all schools globally, for decades now.
Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG
Right now, most professional development on climate change is predominantly available through specialized online courses. There has been a recent noticeable shift towards creating climate change materials, including by the National Education Association, (NEA) who produced a micro credential on climate change and environmental justice.
School-Wide Professional Development for Climate Change
But teachers need more guidance to fill the all too real knowledge gap that misinformation has helped to create. Since teachers already undergo extensive professional development in schools, we need to offer them the same learning experience about climate education as we do history or language learning or math so that they can fully grasp how to teach climate change education. This means we need professional development opportunities in school on climate change for teachers as soon as possible.
EARTHDAY.ORG’s School Guide to Climate Education
On August 15th, we are releasing our very first Climate Education Teaching Guide, which will be free to all teachers globally. We will be topping this up on October 9th, when we’ll be taking a classroom of professional development staff from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area through the guide. This session will be filmed so that we can disseminate it widely, again for free, to all professional development staff in all schools.
Support Matters
The Great Teaching and Learning Report by the NEA, cites the importance of having external partners (be they higher education faculty, coaches, development experts) as a necessary element of the teacher learning continuum. Our Teaching Guide and outreach is our way of making that a reality. Teachers want students to make connections between what they learn in school and what they see in the real world outside the school gate. This comes from authentic learning experiences.
Our Guide encourages climate change to be taught through the lens of those experiencing it. Climate change is an “us” topic and it is happening right now. By providing a framework on how to teach climate education for professional development staff, we are ensuring that they are up to speed before they work with educators. This way they can connect the dots for educators.
Our Teaching Guide provides an approachable on-ramp for climate education with clear steps for incorporating climate education into existing lessons.
Bryce Coon, Director of Climate Education Initiatives, EARTHDAY.ORG
Ultimately, the goal of this Guide is to spark a fire within the education system; among staff, students and even parents. Giving them all the knowledge they need to make sense of the world. To cope with rising student anxiety about the climate crisis, prepare them for a changing planet and show them how to be more ‘Earth’ friendly.
By teaching climate education, we want to bring everyone together to tackle a common threat, but also create a sense of community. Climate change is after all, a community issue, and schools are the heart of every community.
The cavalry isn’t coming from somewhere else; we are the cavalry. Which is why we want our students ready to face the real world. Climate education is the most important gift we can give them.
Kathleen Rogers, President, EARTHDAY.ORG
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