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Welcome!
Welcome!
My name is Jennifer Saune Gutierrez and I am majoring in Biology-Secondary Education with a minor in Environmental Sustainability Education! My interest in biology started during my junior year of high school. but I have always admired nature. My interest revolves in the ecological effects of how the environment works in connection with humans and animals! I hope to both share and gain information about environmental justice and how to educate students on the importance of the topic.
"We have to think of Earth as an organism" - M
"We have to think of Earth as an organism" - M
What is Environmental Justice?
What is Environmental Justice?
It is not only recognizing but involving all individuals regardless of social constructs (race, gender, sexuality, etc.) in conversations and implementations about environmental policies and regulations. It is about providing a fair and meaningful involvement, which means allowing the opportunity for all individuals to participate in decisions that is affecting their environment. And not only involving them but seeking out others who may not be informed and letting them know about the environmental changes occurring. Integrating and creating a collaborative setting in which all voices are heard.
What is Ecojustice Education?
What is Ecojustice Education?
What is involved in ecojustice education is not only learning but understanding about injustices that are occurring in communities. It is recognizing the importance in learning about the connections between social and ecological concepts. In recognizing these connections, it is then teaching students about it which leads to conversations surrounding environmental sustainability topics. It builds conversations surrounding both global or local issues, such as climate change and seeing the effects of it through a global and local lens. Learning about the social and environmental connection of justice both inside and outside the classroom.
Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
Indigenous Ecological Knowledge
There is a historical concept behind how the indigenous community views and values our environment. It is a holistic and traditional approach. Rather than it being a practice done for a set of time, it is a cumulative lifestyle. Indigenous people have been interacting and learning about ecological processes long before a scientific foundation was created, and taking this into notice is important, since their community is often overlooked or excluded in conversations about ecojustice and environmental sustainability. It is important to not only learn but take notice of their values. Indigenous people have been the voice for our earth and implementing their stories and knowledge is important for both inside and outside the classroom. One of the way to do so can be through Traditional Ecological Knowledge or TEK, which refers to the learning and implementation of Indigenous knowledge about the connections through nature.
TEK in the Classroom
TEK in the Classroom
Traditional Ecological Knowledge, or TEK, refers to the knowledge, belief, values, and practices in Indigenous communities. It is the involving generational knowledge of Indigenous communities in connection to the environment. Implementation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the classroom involves both teaching and engaging students about the environment through Indigenous Knowledge. Often western science is the only concept taught in science classrooms, so acknowledging traditional ecological knowledge provides information regarding the idea of sustainability of the environment/life through Indigenous knowledge. Below are some resources about Traditional Ecological Knowledge in the classroom.
Teaching and Exploring Ecojustice Education
Teaching and Exploring Ecojustice Education
The question that may be asked is, how can I as an educator include topics surrounding ecojustice in my classroom? Though what I will talk about is how it can be included in a science classroom, there are many ways it can be incorporated into other subject areas but the main idea through teaching ecojustice is the idea of emphasizing collaborative work.
Inside the Science Classroom
The main topics taught in a biology classroom can include but not limited to: cells, photosynthesis, cellular respiration, hydrologic cycle, chemistry, homeostasis, evolution, macromolecules, and greenhouse gases. Most of the information within these topics deals with simply explaining the concept but what it is not explaining are the affects and ways to help address the common local/global issues found within these topics. I have chose some and came up with a list of how to implement the concepts of environmental justice within these topics.
Hydrologic Cycle : Learning about rainfall affecting water and plants and how they affect one another. This ties into interactions within the ecosystem. As well as introducing the effects of stormwater in the cycle.
Photosynthesis & Chemistry : Concept of nutrients overload in plants and how it affects areas such as watersheds. As well as how fertilizer affects the water in which affects humans/animals.
Evolution : Learning about how our environment has changed in the past 10 years and how communities might change in the next 10 years if negative habits don't change and the implementation of positive habits being helpful.
Macromolecules & Greenhouse Gases : Learning about where our food comes from and the medicinal values and how much CO2 gas is being released to obtain our food. This can be done using foodmiles.com
Placed-Based Education
Placed-Based Education
Placed-based education is the approach of using the local environment to teach about Ecoliteracy. It allows for science and/or social concepts to be seen both outside of the classroom. It is an engaging experience which teaches students about social and environmental concepts within their community. Through engaging students with their local environment, it also creates a learning ecosystem. It is all about teaching and involving students through the exploration of their community. Click the pictures!
New Jersey Learning Standards for Science & Climate Change Education
Applying Knowledge towards Advocacy
Applying Knowledge towards Advocacy
It can be overwhelming when not only teaching but talking about social and ecological concepts in the classroom. It is important to remember to tell the students how advocacy is not done alone and is very much about collaborative work. Bringing together people with similar ideas and values in fighting for injustices within their community's environment. As well as talking about the negative and positive aspects about ecojustice, since the negative tends to take over. This concept ties in very well with how impactful it can be when talking to students about about environmental injustices, so taking notice of their mental health is important. Making sure to address local and global issues in a way where it not only emphasizes what we can do as individuals but also the harm that corporations are doing. The application of knowledge within a school setting can extend to such a great capacity when addressing ways in which to implement that knowledge towards collaborative work within both inside and outside the classroom.
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