Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change
Humankind is increasingly being challenged by anthropogenic environmental changes and society needs to be better equipped with knowledge, skills and values to adapt to these changes. This poses new challenges for school education. We propose a framework towards future-oriented education by addressin...
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Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/6832 |
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doaj-9c97e4d7a71944dba32ec27c4ebfba712020-11-25T03:45:53ZengMDPI AGSustainability2071-10502020-08-01126832683210.3390/su12176832Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental ChangeXi Xiang0Michael E Meadows1School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, ChinaSchool of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, ChinaHumankind is increasingly being challenged by anthropogenic environmental changes and society needs to be better equipped with knowledge, skills and values to adapt to these changes. This poses new challenges for school education. We propose a framework towards future-oriented education by addressing three issues: a) How can the school curriculum be reframed to take account of anthropogenic environmental changes? b) What difficulties do students encounter when learning about these changes? c) What learning tools and pedagogical strategies are best suited to effectively and efficiently teach about environmental changes? An example is provided, whereby secondary school students engage with the topic of deforestation using geospatial technology. This study informs curriculum makers and instructors in providing education that enhances adolescents’ understanding of the uncertain world and increases their ability to be proactive, rather than merely responding to change.https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/6832human-induced changefuture-oriented educationSpatial-temporal thinkinggeospatial technologysecondary school geography |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Xi Xiang Michael E Meadows |
spellingShingle |
Xi Xiang Michael E Meadows Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change Sustainability human-induced change future-oriented education Spatial-temporal thinking geospatial technology secondary school geography |
author_facet |
Xi Xiang Michael E Meadows |
author_sort |
Xi Xiang |
title |
Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change |
title_short |
Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change |
title_full |
Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change |
title_fullStr |
Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change |
title_full_unstemmed |
Preparing Adolescents for the Uncertain Future: Concepts, Tools and Strategies for Teaching Anthropogenic Environmental Change |
title_sort |
preparing adolescents for the uncertain future: concepts, tools and strategies for teaching anthropogenic environmental change |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Sustainability |
issn |
2071-1050 |
publishDate |
2020-08-01 |
description |
Humankind is increasingly being challenged by anthropogenic environmental changes and society needs to be better equipped with knowledge, skills and values to adapt to these changes. This poses new challenges for school education. We propose a framework towards future-oriented education by addressing three issues: a) How can the school curriculum be reframed to take account of anthropogenic environmental changes? b) What difficulties do students encounter when learning about these changes? c) What learning tools and pedagogical strategies are best suited to effectively and efficiently teach about environmental changes? An example is provided, whereby secondary school students engage with the topic of deforestation using geospatial technology. This study informs curriculum makers and instructors in providing education that enhances adolescents’ understanding of the uncertain world and increases their ability to be proactive, rather than merely responding to change. |
topic |
human-induced change future-oriented education Spatial-temporal thinking geospatial technology secondary school geography |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/12/17/6832 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT xixiang preparingadolescentsfortheuncertainfutureconceptstoolsandstrategiesforteachinganthropogenicenvironmentalchange AT michaelemeadows preparingadolescentsfortheuncertainfutureconceptstoolsandstrategiesforteachinganthropogenicenvironmentalchange |
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