Post-critical perspectives to rethink research in environmental education: The aesthetic experience and subjectivity in the training of environmental teachers and educators carolina

Abstract

The current climate, ecological, social, and health crisis leads us to rethink paths of Environmental Education Research (EER). Post-critical theories value local contexts, the subjective dimension of reality, and the subjectivity of subjects. The aim of this research is to characterize post-critical contributions to EER based on an experience in training teachers and environmental educators on an interpretive trail in the Amazon jungle in Brazil. The participants were teachers and environmental educators from the local city. The data presented correspond to narratives about the trail walked, where narrated affective and sensory elements were identified to characterize the subjective dimension. Each subject highlighted different moments and attributed different meanings to the experience. However, considering the subjective dimension in the process of analysis implies methodological gaps in terms of how to access the subjective through narrated experiences, which transform pre-reflective sensations into reflexive ones. We also argue that outdoor activities can promote non-commercial relationships or encourage nature not to commodified or seen as merchandise, as well as contributing to progress in EER.