What the Premier has said about environmental education:
“I want to set Alberta on the road to a greener future, keeping our province beautiful as the economy grows. Environmental education is critical to achieving this goal…[it] encompasses non-traditional, hands-on, experiential learning, which is becoming increasingly important. It teaches kids about foresight and consequences, inspiring them to think creatively about their effect on the Earth. Environmental education makes kids into ethical, engaged thinkers, which is exactly what the “Inspiring Action on Education” report found Albertans want.”
Alison Redford, then-PC Alberta Leadership Candidate, August 2011
What Alberta Education is doing:
- Click on image for larger view
Alberta Education continues to work on its plan to transform K-12 Education in Alberta. This is a unique opportunity for the environmental education community to engage with Alberta Education and to demonstrate that environmental education helps achieve Alberta Education’s vision of creating engaged thinkers who are ethical citizens with an entrepreneurial spirit.
Its 2012 Framework for Student Learning identifies seven competencies (see the graphic, right) – one of which includes ‘Social, Cultural, Global and Environmental Responsibility’. What an opportunity to advance environmental education!
The ACEE team with some of the Multistakeholder Advisory Committee mentioned below. From left to right (front): Dr. Liza Ireland, Kathryn Wagner, Gareth Thomson, Joanne Barwise, Antonella Bell, Dr. Susan Barker. Back row: Cal Kullman, Michael Podlosky, Kathy Worobek, Dr. Jerine Pegg
What ACEE is doing. In 2012, we…
- Developed an Environmental Education Framework in collaboration with Alberta Education to ensure the the transformation of education is based on current research and supports environmental education (in progress)
- Hired researcher Dr. Liza Ireland to conduct this research
- Engaged a Multistakeholder Advisory Committee to advise us on this work
- Were appointed to a working group that will develop recommendations for competency indicators for the new competencies, specifically the social, cultural and environmental responsibility competency
We ensure that all our work in this area adheres to the relevant CRA Regulations for Charities.
ACEE at the 2011 Symposium described below. From left to right: Kathy Worobec, ACEE; Ellen Hambrook, Alberta Education; Michael Podlosky, ATA; Gareth Thomson, ACEE.
In 2011, we
- Ensured that ACEE staff and Board attended all Research Round Tables and Provincial Symposia hosted by Alberta Education and the Alberta Teachers Association
- Engaged environmental education stakeholders, urging them to attend these public events and respond to Alberta Education’s invitation to engage on-line
- Met with Education Minister Thomas Lukaszuk
- Click here to see the details of the 2011 work
ACEE has worked over the past year with many government agencies with environmental education portfolios. Alberta Education invited many Ministries to the Fall Symposium and it was great to see the cross-ministry group involved in the discussion. From left to right: Gareth Thomson, Executive Director, ACEE; Kevin Cantelon, Alberta Parks; Carly Steiger, Alberta Sustainable Resource Development; Kathy Worobec, board member, ACEE; Krista Tremblett, Alberta Environment; and Brent Andressen, Alberta Agriculture.
If you want more information, contact us to learn what ACEE is doing to engage in this process and how you can contribute.
Funding for this initiative is provided by:
