The value of nonformal environmental education-based professional development in preservice science teacher preparation

Abstract

In many higher education institutions, Environmental Education (EE) is not satisfactorily integrated into the majority of science teacher preparation curricula. In addition, there is a reluctance for inservice teachers to integrate EE into their classroom instruction. This chapter describes the work of nonformal EE educators and discusses their potential role in science teacher preparation programs. Nonformal EE educators use a wide assortment of teaching methodologies in varying learning environments to encourage an environmentally literate citizenry. EE methodologies and activities that can be integrated into science teacher preparation programs are illustrated. The benefits of collaborative relationships between nonformal EE educators and science teacher educators are discussed. Strategies that can be used to overcome institutional obstacles that science teacher educators are likely to experience when attempting to integrate EE into preservice programs are described. © 2010 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.