Action Research Networking and Environmental Education in the Netherlands: A challenging and successful action research strategy for educational reform

Abstract

The Dutch government pays much attention to environmental issues. Since 1992 six ministries have raised funds for a nation-wide campaign on environmental education (EE). The goal is the implementation of EE in all primary and secondary schools before the end of 1995. Networking between EE co-ordlnators of schools is becoming a very popular strategy. The organisation of these networks is characterised by regular meetings, an outside facilitator, and funding by the schools. There are six main functions of EE networks: orientation, personal support of participants (very important in the Dutch educational system), inspiration, support of the policy making process in schools, professional development of EE co-ordinators, disseminating results of EE work. The authors' institute was asked to facilitate one network of EE co-ordlnators and to provide practical and strategic experience which is then to be handed on to schools all over the country. The method they have applied is action research, finding out - by action and reflection - how networks do the trick. This report deals with some results phased as questions of the research project on networking. © 1995, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.