Climate Education in Teacher Education
Implementation of Climate Education by UNBC Teacher Candidates: From Theory to Practice
Project description
The world’s climate is changing, affecting numerous aspects of our environment. Moreover, Canada's northern regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change. Research on school education in northern British Columbia (B.C.) has yet to comprehensively consider how teachers approach learning about climate change or even address this complex issue in their practice. A unique demographic of teachers are teacher candidates, pre-service teachers preparing to be certified B.C. teachers. This project aims to explore attitudes and ways of knowing/understanding climate change from the University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC) Teacher Candidates, and then engage and expose UNBC Teacher Candidates to Canadian climate education resources. Specifically, the research question asked in this study is: How are climate education strategies, developed across Canada to support novice teachers teaching climate education to their students, being implemented into practice by UNBC pre-service teachers in northern B.C.? Using an Educational Design-Based Research methodology (Collins, 1992), the project will follow UNBC Teacher Candidates through their first year of teacher education program and then into their early years of practice. The project is focused on northern B.C. school districts and teachers. Key partners include: Institute for Environmental Learning (IEL) and Learning for a Sustainable Future (LSF), each a key stakeholder in developing climate education resources for Canadian teachers.
The study is being funded by a UNBC Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions (PICS) Community Connections Seed Grant, and is Research Ethics Board (REB) approved.
Research question
How are climate education strategies, developed across Canada to support novice teachers teaching climate education to their students, being implemented into practice by UNBC pre-service teachers (Teacher Candidates) in northern B.C.?
Who can participate?
- Are you a teacher candidate in the UNBC Teacher Education Program?
- Are you interested in or concerned about climate education?
- Are you willing to engage in several activities to learn more about climate education and contribute to the professional development of others?
If you've answered "yes" to all three questions, please read the CETE Consent and Letter of Introduction before proceeding with the study.
Project timeline and events
Pre-survey
After reading the CETE Consent and Letter of Introduction and you would like to participate, complete the Pre-Survey. It takes approximately 10-20 minutes to complete.
Workshops
Workshops are delivered as in-person session and online access via Zoom. They are hybrid sessions. Workshops are scaffolded to support participants and designed as professional development events that are open to currently practicing teachers and teacher candidates. As workshops are public, we ask you not to mention that you are a research participant, in order to keep anonymity.
- Workshop 1 - Interpreting Climate Change
- March 14, 2023 at 4:00-5:30pm - Online Zoom Session - Video Recording
- For those participating in the study and watched Workshop 1 - Confirmation Survey
- March 14, 2023 at 4:00-5:30pm - Online Zoom Session - Video Recording
- Workshop 2 - Aims of Climate Education
- April 4, 2023 at 4:00-5:30pm - Online Zoom Session - Video Recording
- For those participating in the study and watched Workshop 2 - Confirmation Survey
- April 4, 2023 at 4:00-5:30pm - Online Zoom Session - Video Recording
- Workshop 3 - Pedagogy Planning for the Classroom (Download PDF: 2023_cete_ws_iii_slides_handout_april_20_sg.pdf)
- April 21, 2023 at 1:00-2:30pm - Online Zoom Session- Video Recording
- For those participating in the study and watched Workshop 3 - Confirmation Survey
- Climate Education Resources- 2023_cete_workshop_3_resources_sd52_april_21.pdf
- April 28, 2023 - In Person at the 2023 Spring Fling Conference (1:15pm - 2:45pm session)
- Climate Education Resources-2023_cete_workshop_3_resources_spring_fling_april_28.pdf
- April 21, 2023 at 1:00-2:30pm - Online Zoom Session- Video Recording
- May 19, 2023 - Online Zoom Session- 1:00-2:30pm- Zoom Registration
- June 12, 2023 - Hybrid Session: In-person- Prince George Secondary School- Room 663 or On-line- Zoom Registration from 4:00-5:30pm.
- Workshop 4 PDF Handout: 2023_cete_ws_iv_slides_handout_may_19_final.pdf
Post-workshop activities
- Post-survey #1 - Implemented after the 4 CETE Workshops
- Focus group - Implemented after Post-Survey #1
- Post-survey #2 - Implemented after the Focus Group
Teacher Candidate Documentation
Artifacts developed by participants during coursework or practicum relating to CETE are submitted by the participant and collected by the Research Team between February 2023 to November 2023. This key work may include: blog posts, portfolio pages, inquiry projects, conference presentations, reflective journals, lesson plans, unit plans, assignments, group presentations, field trips, workshop facilitation, or participation in professional development.
Project team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigators
Research Assistant
- Sophia Graham
Contact information
For more information please email Dr. Hartley Banack at hart.banack@unbc.ca or call 250-960-5317.
If you have any concerns or complaints about your rights as a research participant and/or your experiences while participating in this study, call the Office of Research and Innovation at 250-960-6735 or email reb@unbc.ca.