Environmental Education Concepts

• PRED2723 is Environmental Education
• The course provides pre-service teachers with a foundation of environmental issues using Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) principles.
• Participants will gain Pedagogical Content Knowledge for environmental topics, understanding climate action, biodiversity, pollution, and environmental policies in global and local contexts.

Topics (Midterm)

• Environmental and Ecological Concepts
• Introduction to Environmental Education
• Climate Change and Sustainable Living
• Biodiversity Conservation

Topics (Final Term)

• Gender and the Environment
• Pollution Prevention and Waste Management
• Environmental Policies and Governance
• Integrating Environmental Education Across the Curriculum

Grading System

• Quizzes make up 40% of Grade
• Class Participation (Activity Sheets) make up 30% of Grade
• Course Outputs make up 30% of Grade
• Midterm Grade (50%) + Final Grade (50%) = Final Rating

Major Course Output

• Major course output: An infomercial on environmental problems
• One minute infomercial that highlights an assigned environmental problem with a call-to-ction.
• Students will be grouped into 7 teams (randomly or strategically)
• Each group will be assigned one environmental problem

Environmental Problems

• Air Pollution
• Water Pollution
• Deforestation
• Climate Change
• Plastic Pollution
• Noise Pollution
• Waste Management

Infomercial Guidelines

• It must be original, use no content from the internet
• The infomercial is to be designed as if to be aired on television
• The video should address the assigned environmental problem
• It must include a strong and persuasive call-to-action

Infomercial Criteria

• Content is worth 30pts, including well-researched and accurately presented information
• Adherence to Length is worth 15pts, at 1 minute (Accepted range: 55 sec - 1 min 5 sec).
• Call-to-Action is worth 20pts, by motivating the audience to take action with a clear, strong, and persuasive message
• Creativity & Uniqueness is worth 20pts and being engaging, original, and visually appealing.
• Video Editing is worth 15pts, having smooth transitions, good audio quality, and appropriate effects
• Late Submission Penalty is -10 points per day

Google Classroom Class Codes

• PRED2723 BEEd 2-A: lvhfzzs
• PRED2723 BEEd 2-B: iede2rm
• PRED2723 BEEd 2-C: qtuomhu

Lesson 1: Introduction to Environmental Science Objectives

• Define environmental science and explain its interdisciplinary nature
• Describe basic ecological principles, including ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecological interrelationships.
• Analyze human impacts on the environment and ecosystems
• Apply ecological concepts to real-world environmental issues

Environmental Science

• The study of interactions between humans and their environment
• Integrates physical, biological, and social sciences to understand natural systems
• Addresses environmental challenges through understanding ecosystem functions, human impact, and sustainable solutions.

Interdisciplinary Nature of Environmental Science

• Environmental science is inherently interdisciplinary and draws knowledge from multiple fields to provide a holistic understanding of environmental issues.

Ecological Principles

• Study of ecosystems, components, energy flow, biodiversity, and species interactions.

Ecosystems

• A community of living organisms interacting with each other and the physical environment.
• Ecosystems are self-sustaining as long as energy flows and nutrients cycle within them.

Components of Ecosystems

• Biotic Factors (Living Components) includes: Producers (Autotrophs), Consumers (Heterotrophs), and Decomposers
• Abiotic Factors (Non-Living Components) such as: Sunlight, Water, Soil and Minerals, Temperature and Climate

Biotic Factors

• Living organisms that include: producers, consumers, and decomposers

Biotic Factors: Producers (Autotrophs)

• Organisms produce their own food using sunlight or chemical energy.
• Examples include plants, algae, and some bacteria
• Plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis

Biotic Factors: Consumers (Heterotrophs)

• Organisms depend on others for food and are classified into: Primary Consumers (herbivores), Secondary Consumers (carnivores), Tertiary Consumers (top predators), and Omnivores

Example Consumer Breakdown

• Primary consumers (herbivores) eat producers (e.g., rabbits, deer)
• Secondary consumers (carnivores) eat herbivores (e.g., snakes, foxes)
• Tertiary consumers (top predators) eat secondary consumers (e.g., eagles, sharks)
• Omnivores eat both plants and animals (e.g., humans, bears)

Biotic Factors: Decomposers

• break down dead matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
• Examples include fungi, bacteria, and earthworms.

Abiotic Factors

• Influence the survival and growth of organisms and include Sunlight, Water, Soil and Minerals, Temperature and Climate
• Sunlight, the primary energy source for most ecosystems
• Water is essential for survival and biochemical reactions
• Soil and minerals provide nutrients for plants and influence vegetation
• Temperature and climate affect species distribution and ecosystem functions

Energy Flow in an Ecosystem

• Energy moves through an ecosystem in a one-way path, from the sun to producers and then through different levels of consumers via food chains/webs.

Food Chain

• A linear sequence showing how energy and nutrients pass from one organism to another
• An example sequence: grass → grasshopper → frog → snake → hawk
• Each step in the food chain is called a trophic level

Food Web

• A more complex representation of energy flow, showing interconnected food chains
• It better represents the multiple feeding relationships in an ecosystem

Energy Pyramid

• Visually represents the energy available at each trophic level
• Only 10% of energy is transferred from one level to the next (10% Rule), while 90% is lost as heat.
• Producers have the most energy, while top predators have the least.

Biodiversity

• Variety of life on Earth, from tiny bacteria to large mammals.
• A high level of biodiversity indicates a healthy and resilient ecosystem.
• There are three levels of Biodiversity

Levels of Biodiversity

• Genetic Diversity
• Species Diversity
• Ecosystem Diversity

Biodiversity: Genetic Diversity

• Refers to variations within species at the genetic level
• Helps species adapt to environmental changes and resist diseases

Genetic Diversity - Importance

• Enables species to adapt to environmental changes, such as climate fluctuations and habitat loss
• Increases a population's ability to resist diseases and pests
• Helps in species survival and evolution by providing different traits that may be advantageous in different conditions

Biodiversity: Species Diversity

• Species diversity means variety and abundance of different species within an ecosystem.
• It includes the two key components: Species Richness, and Species Eveness

Components of Species Diversity

• Species richness, the total number of species in a given area
• Species evenness, how evenly the individuals are distributed among the species

Species Diversity - Importance

• Enhances ecosystem stability by ensuring ecological functions continue even if some species decline
• Supports food webs, preventing dependence on a single species for survival
• Promotes ecosystem productivity because diverse ecosystems produce more biomass and are more resilient to disturbances

Biodiversity: Ecosystem Diversity

• Ecosystem diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems found within a geographic region.
• It includes differences in habitats, climate conditions, and the living organisms that inhabit them.

Ecosystem Diversity - Importance

• Provides a range of habitats that support diverse species
• Ensures the availability of essential natural resources such as fresh water, soil, and air
• Supports different ecological processes such as nutrient cycling, water purification, and climate regulation

Why is Biodiversity Important?

• Ecosystem services provide clean air, fresh water, fertile soil, and pollination of crops
• Food security because diverse species ensure stable food sources and protection against crop failures
• Medicine & Biotechnology: many medicines come from plants and microbes found in biodiverse ecosystems
• Economic & Cultural Value includes tourism, traditional medicine, and spiritual beliefs

Threats to Biodiversity

• Habitat Destruction which includes deforestation and urbanisation.
• Climate change.
• Pollution and invasive species.
• Overexploitation which includes hunting and overfishing

Interesting Biodiversity Fact

• The Amazon rainforest is home to over 10% of the world's known species!

Ecological Interrelationships

• Species interact with each other in various ways that shape ecosystems

Types of Species Interactions

• Competition (-/-)
• Predation (+/-)
• Mutualism (+/+)
• Commensalism (+/0)
• Parasitism (+/-)

Ecological Interrelationships: Competition

• Two species compete for limited resources.
• Example: Lions and hyenas fighting over prey

Ecological Interrelationships: Predation

• One species (predator) hunts and eats another (prey).
• Example: A snake eating a frog

Ecological Interrelationships: Mutualism

• Both species benefit.
• Example: Bees pollinate flowers while getting nectar.

Ecological Interrelationships: Commensalism

• One species benefits, and the other is unaffected.
• Example: Barnacles attach to whales without harming them.

Ecological Interrelationships: Parasitism

• One species benefits at the expense of another.
• Example: Ticks feeding on a dog's blood.

Major Human Activities Affecting Ecosystems

• Deforestation
• Pollution (Air, Water, Soil)
• Climate Change
• Overexploitation of Resources

Deforestation

• Large-scale removal of forests, typically to make way for agriculture, urban development, or logging
• Forests are vital ecosystems that provide habitats for a wide variety of species, regulate the water cycle, and store carbon to mitigate climate change

Amazon Rainforest

• The Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the "lungs of the Earth," has been experiencing significant deforestation, particularly for agricultural purposes

Pollution

• Contamination of the natural environment by harmful substances, often as a result of human activities

Air Pollution:

• Source: Industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, agricultural activities (e.g., livestock), and the burning of fossil fuels
• Effects: Causes respiratory diseases, acid rain, and the greenhouse effect, and can disrupt photosynthesis in plants
• Key pollutants: Carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter

Water Pollution

• Source: Industrial waste, agricultural runoff, sewage, oil spills, and plastic waste
• Effects: Leads to the destruction of aquatic ecosystems, can cause eutrophication, fish kills, and the spread of waterborne diseases
• Key pollutants: Heavy metals (e.g., mercury, lead), pesticides, plastic debris, and untreated sewage

Soil Pollution

• Source: Pesticides, heavy metals, waste disposal, and industrial activity
• Effects: Renders the land unfit for farming, degrades soil fertility, and contaminates the food chain
• Key pollutants: Pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals

Climate Change

• Climate change refers to long-term alterations in temperature, precipitation, and weather patterns due to human activities
• This is specifically caused by the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and deforestation.
• This leads to the accumulation of greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane) in the atmosphere, which trap heat and warm the Earth

How Climate Change Affects Ecosystems

• Species migration and extinction
• Ocean acidification
• Melting polar ice
• Changing ecosystems

Overexploitation of Resources

• Natural resources are consumed at an unsustainable rate faster than the ecosystem can replenish them
• This includes activities like overfishing, mining, deforestation for timber, and unsustainable agriculture