Supporting Socio-Ecological Systems Thinking by Engaging Secondary Teachers in Reasoning About the Food-Energy-Water Nexus

• In Event: Systems Thinking in K-12 Teaching

Abstract

Real-world challenges in agriculture, food, and natural resources are inherently complex and interdisciplinary, providing a personally and globally relevant context for supporting systems thinking. The Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus is particularly promising for driving socio-ecological systems thinking. To meet the dual needs for teachers to develop agricultural literacy and systems thinking abilities, we developed a continuing professional education program grounded in the FEW Nexus. In this design research study, we explored the efficacy of our design through qualitative content analysis of artifacts collected from four annual cohorts of secondary teacher participants. Preliminary results indicate that the tools and activity structures embodied in our design were effective in supporting teachers’ socio-ecological systems thinking and reasoning about the FEW nexus.

Authors

• Hannah H. Scherer, Virginia Tech

• Nia McLean, Virginia Tech

• Donna M. Westfall-Rudd, Virginia Tech