scholarly journals What Environmental and Personal Factors Determine the Implementation Intensity of Nature-Based Education in Elementary and Lower-Secondary Schools?

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (17) ◽  
pp. 9663
Author(s):  
Takahiro Yamanoi ◽  
Masashi Soga ◽  
Maldwyn J. Evans ◽  
Kazuaki Tsuchiya ◽  
Tomoyo F. Koyanagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Personal Factors ◽  
Nature Relatedness ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Extinction Of Experience

As society becomes increasingly urbanized, children are becoming much less likely to experience nature. This progressive disengagement from the natural world, often termed the ‘extinction of experience’, has been viewed both as a key public health issue and one of the most fundamental obstacles to halting global environmental degradation. School education has an important role in mitigating and reversing the ongoing extinction of experience. Here, we examine the role of several factors that determine the implementation intensities of nature-based education by science teachers in the classrooms of both primary and secondary schools. We performed a large-scale questionnaire survey comprising 363 elementary and 259 lower-secondary schoolteachers. Several factors predicted the implementation intensity of nature-based education in schools. The most important predictor was teachers’ levels of nature-relatedness, with nature-orientated teachers being more likely to provide nature-based education in their classes. Levels of teachers’ ecological knowledge, frequency of childhood nature experiences, and greenness within the school were also positively associated with the implementation intensity of education. Our results suggest that, to promote nature-based education in schools, it is important to increase schoolteachers’ nature-relatedness and ecological knowledge, as well as to provide more green spaces within schools.

scholarly journals Spaceship Earth Revisited: The Co-Benefits of Overcoming Biological Extinction of Experience at the Level of Person, Place and Planet

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 1407 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan L. Prescott ◽  
Jeffrey S. Bland
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Natural World ◽  
Fine Grained ◽  
Resource Limitations ◽  
Biological Responses ◽  
Spaceship Earth ◽  
Biological Extinction ◽  
Extinction Of Experience

Extensive research underscores that we interpret the world through metaphors; moreover, common metaphors are a useful means to enhance the pursuit of personal and collective goals. In the context of planetary health—defined as the interdependent vitality of all natural and anthropogenic ecosystems (social, political and otherwise)—one enduring metaphor can be found in the concept of “Spaceship Earth”. Although not without criticism, the term “Spaceship Earth” has been useful to highlight both resource limitations and the beauty and fragility of delicate ecosystems that sustain life. Rene Dubos, who helped popularize the term, underscored the need for an exposome perspective, one that examines the total accumulated environmental exposures (both detrimental and beneficial) that predict the biological responses of the “total organism to the total environment” over time. In other words, how large-scale environmental changes affect us all personally, albeit in individualized ways. This commentary focuses the ways in which microbes, as an essential part of all ecosystems, provide a vital link between personal and planetary systems, and mediate the biopsychosocial aspects of our individualized experience—and thus health—over our life course journey. A more fine-grained understanding of these dynamics and our power to change them, personally and collectively, lies at the core of restoring “ecosystems balance” for person, place and planet. In particular, restoring human connectedness to the natural world, sense of community and shared purpose must occur in tandem with technological solutions, and will enhance individual empowerment for personal well-being, as well as our collective potential to overcome our grand challenges. Such knowledge can help shape the use of metaphor and re-imagine solutions and novel ways for restoration or rewilding of ecosystems, and the values, behaviors and attitudes to light the path toward exiting the Anthropocene.

scholarly journals Environmental Literacy and Integration of Environment Issues among Science Teachers in Region XI: Basis for Training Design

10.17158/554 ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudilyn D. Garcesa ◽  
Renan P. Limjuco
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Education ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Science Curriculum ◽  
Environmental Issues ◽  
Environmental Literacy ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Training Design ◽  
High Level ◽  
The Relationship

<p>The study sought to determine the relationship between the level of environmental literacy and level of integration of environmental issues of science teachers in Region XI. The results of the study will be used to design training on the integration of environmental education in science curriculum. The study employed descriptive-correlation research design. The respondents involved were 400 science teachers from 26 identified public secondary schools in Region XI random sampling. Findings showed that science teachers had high level of overall environmental literacy and integration of environmental issues. Specifically, the respondents obtained the highest level of environmental literacy in terms of ecological knowledge while lowest in the pro-environmental behavior. There was a significant relationship between the level of environmental literacy and the level of integration of environmental issues among the science teachers in Region XI. Ecological knowledge and awareness influenced the level of integration of environmental issues of the science teachers. Results implied that science teachers may have higher level of awareness and knowledge about the environment but behaving pro-environmentally did not motivate them to integrate environmental education in their classes.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Keywords: </strong>Environmental literacy, environmental issues, Science teachers, secondary schools, Descriptive-correlation, Region XI, Philippines</p><div> </div>

scholarly journals Planning skills by heads of science departmentand academic performance in science subjects in public secondary schools in Nandi county, Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfed Cheruiyot ◽  
Viviline Ngeno ◽  
Joash K. Kibett
Keyword(s):  
Academic Performance ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Science Teachers ◽  
Instructional Planning ◽  
Mixed Method Research ◽  
Quality Performance ◽  
Training Needs Assessment ◽  
Academic Activities ◽  
Correlation Statistics

Curriculum and instructional planning is important to ensure that academic activities run without interruption in an academic year or term. Heads of departments (HODs of Science) play a pivotal role in implementation of curriculum in secondary schools. Planning is one of the functions vested on HODs to ensure proper implementation of curriculum in their departments. This paper therefore looks at HODs planning skills towards academic performance improvement in three science subjects in public secondary schools in Nandi County, Kenya. The decision to choose HODs of science was due to the importance that is placed on science subject but which has recorded below average performance compared to other subjects in Kenya Certificate of Secondary School. The three science subjects under investigation are; Physics, Biology and Chemistry for secondary schools. The study used mixed method research design. The study had three target populations that comprised of 231 heads of departments, 231 principals and 693 teachers. The sample size of the study was determined using Krejcie and Morgan formulae of determining sample size and comprised of 23 principals, 128 HODS of science and 247 teachers who were selected through stratified random sampling. Data collection was through questionnaires and interview schedule. Analysis of data was performed through quantitative and qualitative methods. The correlation analysis was computed from HODs and science teachers’ data. The study discovered that most of them only planned for science practicals to be conducted on occasional basis by teachers in the department. Moreover, the HODs of Science ensured that the planned activities were conducted as planned. However, the HODs of Science were found not to have proper planning skills on ICT usage, acquisition of instructional material and conducting training needs assessment for teachers. The computed correlation statistics showed that there existed significant influence (p<0.05) between planning skills by HODs of Science and academic performance of students in sciences in public secondary schools in Nandi County. The study recommends that HODs of Science need to be informed by Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (QASOs) that they need to be proactive and not reactive to the responsibilities under their docket. Participatory planning practices needs also to be embraced by HODs of Science for improved implementation and execution of set objectives and targets. Keywords: Planning, Skills, Quality, Performance, Sciences HODs

scholarly journals Implications of the school-household network structure on SARS-CoV-2 transmission under school reopening strategies in England

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James D. Munday ◽  
◽  
Katharine Sherratt ◽  
Sophie Meakin ◽  
Akira Endo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Network Structure ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Careful Monitoring ◽  
School Closures

AbstractIn early 2020 many countries closed schools to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Since then, governments have sought to relax the closures, engendering a need to understand associated risks. Using address records, we construct a network of schools in England connected through pupils who share households. We evaluate the risk of transmission between schools under different reopening scenarios. We show that whilst reopening select year-groups causes low risk of large-scale transmission, reopening secondary schools could result in outbreaks affecting up to 2.5 million households if unmitigated, highlighting the importance of careful monitoring and within-school infection control to avoid further school closures or other restrictions.

scholarly journals Forest Landscape Restoration under Global Environmental Change: Challenges and a Future Roadmap

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 276
Author(s):  
Florent Noulèkoun ◽  
Sylvanus Mensah ◽  
Emiru Birhane ◽  
Yowhan Son ◽  
Asia Khamzina
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Global Environmental Change ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Forest Landscape ◽  
Landscape Restoration ◽  
Adverse Impacts ◽  
Forest Landscape Restoration ◽  
Global Environmental ◽  
Governance Challenges ◽  
Globally Distributed

The adverse impacts of ecosystem degradation have raised the need for forest landscape restoration (FLR) to be included in international sustainability agendas. However, the path towards successful FLR implementation faces numerous biophysical, socioeconomic and governance challenges because FLR operates within complex socioecological systems. In the present study, we review and discuss FLR challenges in the context of global environmental change. We propose a roadmap consisting of five interlinked steps to overcome these challenges: (1) advancing ecological knowledge supporting FLR, (2) adapting FLR management to environmental change through strengthening globally distributed experimental networks, (3) implementing modelling approaches, (4) improving socioeconomic and governance dimensions, and (5) developing evidence-based knowledge platforms. The roadmap offers an iterative and adaptive framework for the continuous evaluation and improvement of FLR strategies and outcomes.

scholarly journals Accessing Voluntary HIV Testing in the Construction Industry: A Qualitative Analysis of Employee Interviews from the Test@Work Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (8) ◽  
pp. 4184
Author(s):  
Sarah Somerset ◽  
Catrin Evans ◽  
Holly Blake
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Health ◽  
Hiv Testing ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Health Check ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Health Awareness ◽  
Health Checks

HIV, globally, remains a significant public health issue and community HIV testing can help to identify those with HIV at an early stage of disease. The workplace offers a prime location for provision of opt-in HIV testing as part of wider health promotion initiatives. The construction industry offers a key opportunity for HIV testing provision in a generally male-dominated group exhibiting some risky behaviors related to HIV. The intervention was an optional one-off individual health check with tailored health advice and signposting, offered to the construction workforce in health check events delivered as part of a large-scale multi-site research program called Test@Work. The events were undertaken at 10 participating organizations (21 events across 16 different sites), none had previously offered sexual health awareness or HIV testing to their workforce. Participants were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview following general health checks which included HIV testing. Out of 426 employees attending the health check events, 338 (79.3%) consented to interview on exit. Accessing HIV testing at work was valued because it was convenient, quick, and compatible with work demands. Interviewees identified HIV risks for construction including drug use, high numbers of sexual partners and job-related exposures, e.g., to used needles. Health seeking in construction was limited by stigma and low support, with particular barriers for non-permanent workers. The organization of the construction industry is complex with multiple organizations of different sizes having responsibility for varying numbers of employees. A disparity between organizational policies and employment circumstances is evident, and this generates significant health inequalities. To combat this, we recommend that organizations in the construction sector offer their employees awareness-raising around health behaviors and health protection in packages, such as toolbox talks. We recommend these be accompanied by annual health checks, including sexual health awareness and opt-in workplace HIV testing. This approach is highly acceptable to the workforce in the industry and removes barriers to access to healthcare.

Teaching geography of Azerbaijan in the content of geography subject in secondary schools of general education

2021 ◽  
Vol 62 (01) ◽  
pp. 136-140
Author(s):  
Aytaj Vazeh Tagiyeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
General Education ◽  
Education System ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Problem Situation ◽  
Modern Period ◽  
Teaching Unit ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Map Analysis ◽  
11Th Grade

Summary In the modern period of reforms in the education system of our country, large-scale changes are reflected in the teaching of geography, including the teaching of geography in Azerbaijan. Thus, in the country's secondary schools, Azerbaijani geography is taught in all classes on the basis of the principle of succession in geography. Geography of Azerbaijan plays an important role in the teaching of geography in secondary schools. Out of 57 subjects taught in the 10th grade, 16 subjects are taught entirely in Azerbaijani geography. In the 11th grade, 7 out of 44 topics are discussed in their entirety, the geography of Azerbaijan. In addition, the information on the geography of Azerbaijan is reflected in the structure of the problem situation, asking research questions, systematization of information, creative application of the lesson, assessment stages. Key words: education, training, geography of Azerbaijan, map, analysis, assessment, teaching unit, subject, text, illustration, assignment

scholarly journals Demystifying the Opioid Trade in Anonymous Markets and Forums (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengyi Li ◽  
Xiangyu Du ◽  
Xiaojing Liao ◽  
Xiaoqian Jiang ◽  
Tiffany Champagne-Langabeer
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Longitudinal Measurement ◽  
Online Marketplaces ◽  
Trading Activities

BACKGROUND Opioid use disorder presents a public health issue afflicting millions across the globe. There is a pressing need to understand the opioid supply chain to gain new insights into the mitigation of opioid use and effectively combat the opioid crisis. The role of anonymous online marketplaces and forums that resemble eBay or Amazon, where anyone can post, browse, and purchase opioid commodities, has become more and more important in opioid trading. Therefore, a greater understanding of anonymous markets and forums may enable public health officials and other stakeholders to comprehend the scope of the crisis. OBJECTIVE The objective of this work is to profile the opioid supply chain in anonymous markets and forums via a large-scale, longitudinal measurement study on anonymous market listings and posts. Toward this, we propose a series of techniques to collect data, to identify opioid jargon terms used in the anonymous marketplaces and forums, and to profile the opioid commodities, suppliers, and transactions. METHODS We first conducted a whole-site crawl of anonymous online marketplaces and forums to solicit data. Then, we developed a suite of opioid domain-specific text mining techniques (e.g., opioid jargon detection, opioid trading information retrieval) to recognize information relevant to opioid trading activities (e.g., commodities, price, shipping information, suppliers, etc.). After that, we conducted a comprehensive, large-scale, longitudinal study to demystify opioid trading activities in anonymous markets and forums. RESULTS A total of 248,359 listings from 10 anonymous online marketplaces and 1,138,961 traces (i.e., threads of posts) from 6 underground forums were collected. Among them, we identified 28,106 opioid product listings and 13,508 opioid-related promotional and review forum traces from 5147 unique opioid suppliers’ IDs and 2778 unique opioid buyers’ IDs. Our study characterized opioid suppliers (e.g., activeness and cross-market activities), commodities (e.g., popular items and their evolution), and transactions (e.g., origins and shipping destination) in anonymous marketplaces and forums, which enabled a greater understanding of the underground trading activities involved in international opioid supply and demand. CONCLUSIONS The results provide insight into opioid trading in the anonymous markets and forums, and may prove an effective mitigation data point for illuminating the opioid supply chain.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document