Download S235 Environmental Education

S235 Environmental Education
This document addresses the content related abilities, with reference to the module. Abilities
of thinking, learning, problem solving, team work, communication, debating and defending
are addressed by the system wide curricular practices at the institute.
Module Synopsis
This module seeks to equip students with a holistic understanding of key environmental
processes and the socio-economic, political and ethical issues related to contemporary
concerns and their management. The module encourages students to develop positive
environmentally responsible value formation. Students will gain knowledge and
understanding on major terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems they are likely to
encounter in the South-East Asian region.The module will also include an understanding of
international and local (Singaporean) conservation issues and movements essential to the
development of a knowledgeable, well rounded, environmentally responsible outdoor and
adventure professional.
Module Learning Outcomes
Throughout the course, students will:
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Understand the biosphere – the main components of Earth and explain how they are
constantly affect each other
Explain how humans are affecting the biosphere by our activities
Discuss the wisdom through the ages regarding the environment – are we heeding these?
Understand the unique ecosystems of the lowland, peat swamp, mangrove, submontane, montane, freshwater (lake & riverine) and sub-alpine tropical rainforest.
Understand what are the unique features of the tropical rainforest compared to other
forest ecosystems
Understand the threats that are faced by the tropical rainforests and what conservation
initiatives are being implemented to save them.
Explain how deforestation can lead to land degradation and global warming.
Explain how deforestation can lead to the lost of habitat and food for animals.
Explain how the mangrove can survive in a salty environment.
Explain how mangrove forest protect both marine habitat and the coastline.
Relate the threats faced by mangrove forests in Singapore and the conservation efforts
to preserve them.
Distinguish the different marine ecosystems that exist in Singapore. This will include:
Mangrove, Rocky Shore, Coral Reef, Sea Grass & the Blue Water
Explain the threats to these ecosystems and the efforts that are being initiated to deal
with them.
Strictly Confidential. For Articulation Purpose Only.
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Explain the recreational activities that are engaged in within these ecosystems & how
they impact on them
Explain the importance of biodiversity and the threats to it.
Describe the social justice issues that related to the threats including bio-piracy and the
challenges as well as opportunities that face relations between developed and less
development nations in the field of utilization of biodiversity resources
Describe the initiatives that have been put in place to conserve and manage biodiversity.
Understand the problems that stem from unsustainable agricultural practices and how
they impact agricultural communities. This will include loss of topsoil, the downward
spiral of fertilizer utilization and the problems of monoculture.
Understand social justice issues related to the agro-business industry and the role
Singapore and other developed countries play in sustaining it.
Understand how BIG agro-businesses are intellectual property laws to compete in the
industry.
Point out the major sources of environmental pollution in terrestrial, marine & freshwater
ecosystems.(including atmospheric pollution)
Understand the key initiatives to manage and mitigate the causes of the pollution
Trans-boundary Issues in environmental pollution (eg marine, haze, nuclear leakage).
Explain what sustainable development is.
Explain the issues and challenges that face sustainable development internationally and
in Singapore.
Explain the efforts that have/are being initiated to achieve sustainable development
Explain current issues with bio-degradability & long term utilization of limited resources
Explain why recycling is necessary in our current day living.
Explain the opportunities, limitations and challenges behind the “Three Rs”
Explain major thoughts in environmental philosophy
Explain what the major faiths have to say about humanity’s relationship with other
species and the environment
Explain how the major environmental ethics are being expressed in the
outdoor/adventure industry
Describe how businesses have engaged environmental issues historically
Describe how businesses are engaging environmental issues to survive and thrive.
Describe the how business will be engaging environmental issues in the future and the
reasons behind some of the key forecasts and trends.
Describe the key International Organizations that work on environmental issues
(including the UN organizations, Regional, Country Funded and Non-Government
Organisations)
Describe how these organizations have been successful/unsuccessful (mainstream and
more radical approaches)
Describe the challenges and opportunities that face these organizations.
Describe the roles of the Government, Private Sector & Civil Society in environmental
conservation in Singapore
Understand the effectiveness and limitations of each major player in environmental
conservation in Singapore and how the cooperate and complement each other.
Strictly Confidential. For Articulation Purpose Only.
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Describe the challenges and opportunities that face the civil society in environmental
conservation in Singapore.
Understand the “building block” theory in outdoor environmental education
Understand how to plan a basic environmental education theme into an Outdoor
Adventure Learning programme
Understand how to take advantage of opportunities in Outdoor Adventure Learning
programmes to weave in Environmental themes/lessons
Explain what Climate Change is and why it is happening.
Explain the impact of climate change on the different regions in the world.
Explain what is being done to deal with climate change. This will include international
and local efforts in Singapore as well as the challenges that are facing these efforts.
Understand the philosophy behind the ”power of the individual”
Understand how personal choices and decisions can make a positive impact on “blue,
green & brown” environment and contemporary daily life in Singapore.
Understand how they can make a positive difference to the environment as outdoor
adventure professionals
Strictly Confidential. For Articulation Purpose Only.
Module Coverage
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Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems
Impact of deforestation
Mangrove Ecosystems
Marine Ecosystems in Singapore
Biodiversity
Environment & Agriculture
Environmental Pollution
Sustainability of limited resources
Environmental Ethics
Businesses Environmental Issues
International Conservation Organizations
Environmental Conservation Movement in
Singapore
Environmental Education in Outdoor
&Adventure Learning
Climate Change
Individual Choice in Environmental
Conservation
Total = 15 Problems
= 90 hrs
Allocated time per day
(One day-One problem PBL pedagogy)
Discussions in
Study Cluster
Resource
gathering and
team work
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60
30
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Formal Lab
Experiment
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Strictly Confidential. For Articulation Purpose Only.