Community Values Matter for Cultivating Students' Environmental Citizenship: Rethinking Place-Based Education

• In Event: Poster Session 8
  In Poster Session: International Perspectives on Ecoliteracies: Work at the Intersection of Community, Environmental, and Scientific Issues

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a perspective for environmental educators to reconsider the meaning of place-based education. I conducted a case study that engages Taiwanese middle school students in discussing a highly controversial environmental policy in their communities. I found that students’ learning trajectories follow a process characterized by four stages, values embedding, values conflicting, values navigation, and reframing their community values. These values changes helped them conceptualize their roles as environmental citizens. Based on this case study, I argue that community values play vital roles both in place-based learning and teaching. Learning occurs when knowledge connects to what students consider important to their community. To develop students’ environmental citizenship, educators need to focus on changing their community values.

Author

• Yun Wen Chan, University of Wisconsin - Madison