A Survey on the Concern of Environmental Problems and Nature and on the Practice of Environmental Educaiton of Kinder-garten Teachers.

1998 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 08680212
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Science education
• Research Institution: Himejigakuin Women's Junior College
• Principal Investigator: INOUE Michiko Himejigakuin Women's Junior College, Assistant Professor, 児童教育科, 助教授 (80269919)
• Project Period (FY): 1996 – 1998
• Keywords: early childhood educators / environmental education / training programs / environmental issues / nature / 環境問題

Research Abstract

Firstly, the survey of junior college students in training courses for early childhood educators showed that (1) they have a lot of experiences in nature during their childhood, however, they have not learned environmental issues enough in school, (2) so at this moment, their deep concern for nature and environmental problems does not lead them to act ecologically. Based on these results, I want to make programs in training schools in order to train students for early childhood educators who can conduct environmental education responsibly. The goals of training programs include (1) to realize environmental issues and the need of environmental education from the early childhood, (2) to develop environmentally responsible behaviors, and (3) to develop practical skills of environmental education, especially focusing on interacting play with nature. To achieve these, the training course for early childhood educators should be improved in the fields of curriculum, educational methods, and c ontents.
Secondly, the survey of kindergarten teachers in Hyogo Prefecture in Japan showed that (1) their deep concern for nature and environmental problems does not lead them to act ecologically, (2) they did practices focusing on natuer with children at kindergartens, however, these practices were not be related to the goals of environmental education. It is important to make the programs for recurrent education for early childhood educators to make them to conduct environmental education responsibly. The goals of recurrent training programs should include (1) to realize environmental issues and the need of environmental education from the early childhood, (2) to develop environmentally responsible behaviors, and (3) to develop practical skills of environmental education, especially focusing on interacting play with nature, (4) to recognize the importance of environmental ethics. To achieve these, the opportunity should be increased for kindergarten teachers to study recurrently on environmetal education in early childhood.