Alberta Education continues to work on its Action Agenda that outlines a comprehensive program for educational transformation 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.
Alberta Education is currently seeking input on guiding principles to inform the design of future Alberta curriculum through an online survey – deadline December 1, 2011. ACEE has responded to this survey and we encourage you to take 10 minutes to do so as well. View our response to the survey.
There are six components in the Action Agenda with ACEE actively engaged with the Action on Curriculum initiative. There are three areas of focus with the Action on Curriculum and ACEE is engaged in work in the first two areas:
- Curriculum standards and process redesign
- 21st Century competencies
- Strategic review of Locally Developed Courses (LDC)
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.
Curriculum Standards and Process Redesign
| Goal | Create engaging curriculum that inspires every student every day by redesigning guidelines for curriculum (programs of study, balanced assessment tools, learning and teaching resources) and curriculum development frameworks. |
| Alberta Education and Alberta Teacher’s Association |
Alberta Education is seeking input on guiding principles. Deadline: November 21st, 2011. View ACEE’s response and take 10 minutes to respond to the survey yourself.
ATA and Alberta Education cohost the ATA Curriculum Symposium, November 4th and 5th with a focus on creating guiding principles to inform the design of future Alberta curriculum. Read Kathy Worobec’s blog about the event. Three Research Roundtables were held in the spring of 2011. The Framework for Student Learning is the result of a review of educational literature and research along with online engagement and face-to-face engagements including the Research Roundtables. |
| Our Work to Advance Environmental Education | ACEE submits a response to Alberta Education survey on guiding principles.
Guiding Principles for Curricula Design that Encourage and Support Environmental Education is drafted and submitted to Alberta Education and the ATA for the ATA Symposium November 4th and 5th, 2011 that will focus on guiding principles for designing new provincial curricula. ACEE and other environmental educators attend research roundtables. Competency Social, Cultural and Environmental Responsibility is included in the Framework for Student Learning (draft version stated Social Responsibility, Cultural and Environmental Awareness). See diagram below. |
| Next Steps | ATA Curriculum Symposium, November 4th & 5th (by invitation)
Curriculum Standards and Guidelines, March 2012 Curriculum Development Framework, 2012 |
21st Century Competencies
| Goal | Review the Student Learning Outcomes in the Ministerial Order on the Goal and Standards Applicable to the Provision of Basic Education in Alberta. |
| Alberta Education and Alberta Teacher’s Association |
A Fall Symposium (Sept 29 & 30, 2011) was held to engage stakeholders in the creation of new Student Learning Outcomes |
| Our Work to Advance Environmental Education | ACEE, and government ministry staff attend Fall Symposium.
ACEE created a Discussion Draft on Student Learning Outcomes for the Symposium. |
| Next Steps | Alberta Education will continue to work on creating new Student Learning Outcomes. |
How is ACEE helping advance environmental education?
- Working with Alberta Education on further research to identify what is needed to achieve competency in Social, Cultural, Global and Environmental Responsibility and how this work delivers on other competencies
- Building relationships with Alberta Education, other government ministries, and environmental educators (academics and in the field)
- Building relationships with Premier Redford and the new cabinet (see Premier Redford’s responses to the ACEE survey for the PC Alberta Leadership candidates)
- Demonstrating that environmental education and citizenship are essential features of education in Alberta with the release of a White Paper Environmental Education: Creating the Engaged and Innovative Alberta Citizens of Tomorrow.
This 1983 curriculum guide shows that Alberta Education has considered environmental education in the past - ACEE is working hard to ensure that this will also be the case for FUTURE curriculum!
This 1983 curriculum guide shows that Alberta Education has considered environmental education in the past - ACEE is working hard to ensure that this will also be the case for FUTURE curriculum!
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:
