ontario ecoschools and you
TRANSCRIPT
Vision for
environmental education
in Ontario
Ontario’s education system will prepare students with the knowledge,
skills, perspectives, and practices they need to be environmentally
responsible citizens. responsible citizens.
Students will understand our fundamental connections to each other and
to the world around us through our relationship to food, water, energy, air,
and land, and our interaction with all living things.
The education system will provide opportunities within the classroom and
the community for students to engage in actions that deepen this
understanding.
http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/curriculumcouncil/shapingSchools.pdf
The Bondar Report
32 recommendations endorsed by the
Ministry of Education
Ontario EcoSchools is aligned with and supports all the recommendations
Ontario EcoSchools helps schools:
• promote ecological literacy for all students• promote ecological literacy for all students
• establish environmentally sound operational
practices
• develop a process for continual improvement in
environmental education and operational practices
• incorporate environmental education into the
school planning process
• benchmark their environmental practices, assess
their progress and be recognized through certification
18 Public boards
13 Catholic boards
Boards using EcoSchools resources
(2008-09)
+Keewatin Patricia (Kenora, Dryden, etc)
School Ground Greening
Energy Conservation
EcoSchools helps students develop ecological literacy while engaged in
Waste Minimization Ecological Literacy
EcoSchools helps students develop ecological literacy while engaged in practices to become environmentally responsible citizens.
Waste Minimization – Waste Audit
Students assessing the contents of the bag
Students weighing garbage
Ecological Literacy
• Goal, Role, Audience, Scenario, Performance
• Students research an issue, • Students research an issue, develop a perspective and complete a product or performance task
• Sample plans for Gr. 2, 4/5, 7, Gr. 10 Science and Gr. 12 Chemistry
www.ecoschools.ca
• Prioritize student engagement
• Focus initiatives
• Practical, do-able
Program Guides
• Practical, do-able
• Board-wide or school wide
• Adaptable to board’s capacity, priorities, policies
How electricty is used in schools
28%
1Auxiliary
Lights off makes a difference!
45%
17%
10%
1
2
3
4
Lighting
Auxiliary motors
Auxiliary equipment
Space cooling
Source: Energy Management Program Review for Toronto DSB, p.14, June 2006
Example Energy Conservation Guideline
(2) Computer monitors are turned OFF when not in useturned OFF when not in use
• Wherever there is a light on, energy is being usedFor example, the computer monitor is still using energy if:– you can see the screen saver OR– if there is a light glowing anywhere on the monitor
How can I know that energy is being used?
• Wherever there is heat, energy is being usedFor example, if an electrical cord has a converter built in and it is warm to touch then energy is being used
Excerpt from The Power of One; see www.ontarioecoschools.org Forms & Templates
If 1000 computers were on continuously the electricity consumed would cost $84,884 annually.
If monitors were turned off whenever they are not in use, overall power consumption could be cut by 50%.
--Aladaco Consulting for Halton DSB, 2006
� One EcoReview for the whole school (snapshot)
� Reflects Energy Conservation guidelines (board specific or Ontario version)
� Assesses behaviour & practices in the school…board…province
What is an EcoReview?
school…board…province
� Key element of Ontario EcoSchools Certification
� Active student inquiry with staff supervision/input
� Informs the Action Plan
(8) Recycle all paper
Example of a Waste Minimization
Guideline
(8) Recycle all paper products using a paper recycling system set up in all offices and classrooms.
• Grade 1-12
• Complements EcoSchools Guides
EcoSchools Resources
Curriculum
Guides
• Updated with revised Gr. 1-8 Science and Tech expectations
• Provides reasons why Waste Minimization and Energy Conservation Guidelines are important
Ecological Literacy
• What is ecological literacy?
It is understanding
– how the environment works
– how our society and economy (human systems) depend on clean air, water, soil, etc. (natural systems)
– how human interactions with the environment can have both positive and negative impacts on people and the natural world
Stronger links to the environment result in educati onal results that show such evidence as:
"Reading and mathematics scores improved. Students performed better in science and social studies; stu dents
Advancing Education Through
Environmental Literacy
performed better in science and social studies; stu dents developed their ability to transfer their knowledge from familiar to unfamiliar contexts …”
Excerpt from National Environmental Education and Training Foundation report; Glenn, 2000
The primary results related to using the environment as an integrating context included:
• higher scores on standardized measures of academic achievement in reading, writing, math, science, and social
Closing the Achievement Gap
achievement in reading, writing, math, science, and social studies
• reduced discipline and classroom management problems
• increased student engagement and enthusiasm for learning
• greater pride and ownership in students' accomplishments
www.seer.orgExcerpt from Lieberman & Hoody, 1998
• Students develop ecological literacy while engaged in practices that reinforce their learning
• School community works together to be environmentally responsible at school…and hopefully take those practices home
Benefits of using EcoSchools
home
• Board-wide guidelines are developed and implemented to conserve energy use and minimize waste, saving money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Certification offers an opportunity for schools to benchmark their environmental practices, assess their progress and be recognized for their achievements
Halton District School Board
• ~ 500 students; Gr. 6-8
• Green team meets every Wed. at lunch
Case Study: EJ James Public School
at lunch
• Approximately 15 people on the team
• Custodian and principal are supportive of the team but don’t attend every meeting
• Litterless lunches• Habitat restoration in nearby creek• Litter pickup in park across the street
Environmental Initiatives in place before
using EcoSchools
• Full Green Team meeting w/principal & custodian• Students completed Energy & Waste EcoReviews
Using EcoSchools to focus the efforts of
the Green Team
Student participation• Students work in pairs with walkabout worksheets• Energy and Waste reviews completed at the same time• EJ James’ student took 45 minutes to complete• Staff supervisor present
Completing the EcoReview
Staff Participation• Staff advisor/principal/caretaker involved in answering
many of the questions• Opportunity for awareness raising• Staff questions were completed in about 45 minutes
• Total time for Waste and Energy EcoReviews = 1.5hrs
• Draft an Action Plan
• Principal and Green Team meet
• Implement Action Plan
Next Steps…
• Gather Certification documentation
• Complete Final EcoReview
• Certified Silver Ontario EcoSchool
• Assesses behaviour in 4 pillars +
• Emphasis on school-wide engagement given students’ sphere of influence
EcoSchools Resources: Certification
sphere of influence
• Culminating assessment reflecting school’s achievement using the EcoSchools program
All EcoSchools Certification—boards
2003-2008
25
30
Participating boards
0
5
10
15
20
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Participating boards
estimated
All EcoSchools Certification— schools
2003-2008
600
700
800
900
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09
Ont EcoSchools
TDSB EcoSchools
estimated