3.0

credits

Average Course Rating

In addition to posing an existential challenge, climate change presents one of the thorniest educational problems yet faced. Teachers eager to address climate change, environmentalism, and sustainability in their classrooms face the typical needs that all teachers face—to cover challenging content and concepts, to engage their students, etc. But those aspiring to teach about sustainability face additional unique challenges. First, they must delicately balance their learners’ emotions—they need to be candid and honest while not overwhelming their learners with dread. Second, while the average algebra doesn’t think much about behavior change, behaving differently is clearly a primary outcome for teachers of environmentalism if our species is to survive. Third, few topics in any school curriculum have been politicized as much as climate science—so how should educators address key topics with skeptical students and/or hostile parents? Finally, a massive equity issue lies at the foundation of our environmental issues—how should teachers tackle these topics in a way that promotes more awareness, and more equitable outcomes for students and for broader society? While these challenges are daunting to say the least, the course will provide strategies to help educators navigate these core issues as well as how to teach about sustainability while avoiding burnout and sustaining their own well-being.