Choi-Yung Lam, Architecture
Due to the growing number of problems - pollution, resource depletion, and overpopulation problems, the general public is becoming more concerned about their environment. The best way we have to deal effectively with the environmental problems is to fully develop an environmental education system. Also, the environmental education should focus on children especially because the children nowadays are the hosts of the world in future. Therefore, it is very important to develop positive attitudes towards the natural environment at the early years of childhood. Unfortunately, to this date, environmental education has been sporadic and limited. This is partly because it is a relatively new discipline, but one of the major problems is that much of the current information on the subject is not easily accessible to the public or even the educators (Lindauer,1992). Another important logistical barrier is lack of instructional materials (Ham and Sewing,1987). Society needs to fully develop environmental education not only through the regular school learning, but also for everyone through different interesting public media such as television, radio, and the world wide web.
Indicators, Strategies and Benefits
The indicators (I's in bold and underline) measure progress towards achieving successful environment education programs. The strategies (S's in bold) are recommended actions to improve each indicator. The I's and S's are followed by a brief statement of benefits.
I.2. Provide environmental information and materials.
S.2.a. Make EE programs on television more accessible and popular.
Television can be a very
useful media to promote EE because many people spend a lot of time for
watching television everyday, especially children. According to Research
on the Effects of TV viewing, preschool children watch television for 60
hours per week. Seven to seventeen year old children watch television
for 25-30 hours per week. Therefore, using television to educate
children about EE can be very effective. According to a television
station, T.V.B. in Hong Kong, it has a program about sex education.
This program advises parents to watch it with their children. The
program helps the parents convey the correct messages about sex to their
children. At the same time, the parents can learn the knowledge with
their children together. Thus, Pullman local television station such
as KWSU and Cable 8 can imitate the program from Hong Kong and produce
some public service programs to increase people’s awareness about the environment.
For example, they can have a program which advises parents to watch with
their children. The program could show how important it is for people
to take care the environment and how they can work for a sustainable environment
in their daily life. After watching the program, parents and their
children may have some thoughtful discussions about the program and they
may try to implement some suggestions from the program together to protect
the environment. For example, they can plant a tree at their courtyard
to provide shelter for birds, or try to recycle cans, papers, plastic bags
and containers. Also, the TV program can provide some games for the
parents to order. As a result, the parents and their children can
enrich their understanding and knowledge of the environment by playing
the games together.
Local TV stations can produce
effective cartoon programs for children. Children generally enjoy
cartoon characters. If effective, children may influence their family
members while they are following what they have learned from the programs.
In addition, the cartoon characters can sing songs or simple slogans that
the children may accept the messages more easily.
The other thing that television
can do for EE is to have periodic short messages (advertisements) which
to give reminders about environmental concerns. One way to do this
is to invite some idols from different fields like politicians, sport stars,
singers, movie stars, etc. to send the messages. For instance, the
national TV network such as NBC has shown advertisements to promote the
importance of education. The advertisement has invited Grant Hill,
the basketball player from NBA, to give the messages. This is a good
way to produce some kind of advertisement by local TV stations. They
can invite football players such as WSU's Ryan Leaf to give the messages
about environmental concerns.
S.2.b. Make EE programs on radio more accessible and popular.
The other interesting way
to convey knowledge about EE is from the radio. For example, the
local radio station can produce some stories with optional endings about
the relationship between daily life and the environment. After each
story, the audience could call the radio station and have some discussion
on air. They could vote for various issues from the story.
Finally at the ending of the story, the program could present the results
and their affects on the environment and ones life. If the audience
makes a wrong decision for the ending of the story, they will know what
happens to their environment and their life. Therefore, they will
make a right choice when they meet the same problem of the story in future.
In addition, I am sure that the people can learn something through their
decision making and enjoy the story.
S.2.c. Increase accessibility to computer programs.
Nowadays, computers are
becoming more and more important. Almost everyone uses a computer for different
purposes. Children use it for learning. College students use
it to do homework or to learn the operation of computer programs.
Adults use it for work. Since computers are used more commonly,
it is the most suitable tool to educate people about issues and how to
protect the environment. In the market, the computer program manufacturers
have already produced games for kids to learn new materials such as typing
and spelling. Therefore, we can recommend the computer game manufacturers
produce games for kids to learn about EE. For some, it can be much
more fun to learn something by doing it that way.
EE can be learned in many different and interesting ways through the media like TV, radio, and computers. Through these fun ways, it is easier to arouse children’s interests. Since children will inherit the future, it is important to educate children to have a positive attitude, curiosity and growing understanding about the environment.
References
Ham, S. H. and Sewing, D. R., 1987. Barriers to Environmental Education. The Journal of Environmental Education.
Lindauer, J., 1992. Perspectives in Environmental Education.
Montessori, M., 1976. The Discovery of the Child. Trans. M. Joseph Costelloe, S. J. New York: Ballentine Books.
Sebba, R., 1991. The Landscapes of Childhood: The Reflection of Childhood’s environment in Adult Memories and in Children’s Attitudes. Environment and Behavior. 23(4): 395-422.
Stapp, W. B., 1978. An instruction Model for Environmental Education. Prospects. 8(4): 495-507.
Tanner, T., 1980. Significant Life Experiences: A New Research Area in Environmental Education. The Journal of Environmental Education. 11(4): 20-24.
TVB Ltd. Co., Hong Kong.