Healing Earth: Teacher Experiences of Integral Ecology Curriculum

• In Event: Being Present With Each Other as We Learn From and With Each Other

Abstract

This study explores integral ecology as a framework for holistic education from the perspective of teachers who have used Healing Earth, an open-source curriculum for integral ecology developed by the International Jesuit Ecology Project. The integral ecology framework provides an expansive view of ecology based on an understanding of interconnectedness, emphasizing humans’ relationship with our world. In this approach, ecology is inseparable from the other scientific disciplines and from fields such as politics, philosophy, and religion, and it is integral to the Jesuit pursuit of social justice. In-depth interviews with high school and university instructors explore the opportunities and challenges of teaching ecology holistically in a variety of education contexts.

Authors

• Caleb Steindam, Loyola University Chicago

• Charles Tocci, Loyola University Chicago