12
hours of Professional Development
4 hours pre-workshop,5.5 hours Face to Face, 2.5 hours post-workshop
assignment
There will be
four sessions. The first session will meet for 1 hour, the following
three sessions will meet for 1.5 hours
Facilitated by Earth Ethics
Institute Staff
This workshop is one of a
two-part series, each offering four sessions that address a central
issue of our time: What is the appropriate relationship of human beings
to Earth? As participants engage in readings and discussion questions,
they will share observations and reflections on our relationship to
Earth, the threats of ecological imbalance, what we can do to create a
paradigm shift and make lasting, impactful change, and what the role of
higher education is in creating a future generation of Earth literate
citizens.
The workshop will be taught
as a group-facilitated discussion and broken into four sessions. It will
begin with readings from conservationists who have shaped the modern day
environmental movement. With that foundation, participants will explore
topics that challenge our modern mechanistic view of Earth. Next we will
explore how religion and spirituality shape ecological values and
ethics. Finally, participants will synthesize information to envision
how a paradigm shift in systems, including education, can lead to a more
sustainable and resilient future.
Each session’s readings will
be supported by additional resources, including web resources, videos,
and other suggested materials for use in the classroom.
Objectives
As a result of this
workshop, participants will be able to:
· Examine
personal experiences, memories, and reflections on the natural world, as
well as one’s connection to place
· Recognize existing
paradigms and identify how they influence systems including education,
and shape our relationship with Earth
· Describe the
concepts of systems thinking, deep ecology and the Gaia hypothesis
· Compare the
approaches of indigenous, religious, and spiritual traditions in
responding to ecological degradation
· Describe ways to
effectively incorporate right relationship with Earth into curriculum
Requirements/Evaluation
Evaluation will include
completion of assigned readings prior to sessions two through four -
minimum of four hours – and completion of workshop. Finally, participant
must develop a discipline specific lesson plan or course module that
incorporates key concepts of this workshop. Lesson plan is due to the
director of Earth Ethics Institute within three weeks of the end of the
workshop, and will be posted on the Earth Ethics webpage.
Evaluation:
Evaluation will include
completion of workshop and participant must develop a discipline
specific lesson plan or course module that incorporates key concepts of
sustainability and/or systems thinking. Lesson plan is due to the
director of Earth Ethics Institute within three weeks of the workshop,
and will be posted on the Earth Ethics webpage.
Facilitators:
Colleen Ahern-Hettich has
served as the director of the Earth Ethics Institute for the past 11
years. Ms. Ahern-Hettich has served on several boards and committees
including: the Environmental Education Providers of Miami-Dade County,
the Advisory Committee of South Florida Environmental Art Project, Inc.;
the Economic, Social and Health Issues Committee of the Miami-Dade
County Climate Change Advisory Task Force, the Be Healthy Board, and The
City of Miami Green Commission.
Mike Matthews has served as
the Earth Ethics Institute part-time program professional for the InterAmerican Campus for the past three years. Matthews holds an M.S. in
environmental science from Florida International University. He has
taught as a visiting instructor on the faculty of Florida Gulf Coast
University’s Marine and Ecological Sciences Department
Netiva Kolitz has served as
the Earth Ethics Institute part-time program professional at the Kendall
Campus for the past three years. Ms. Kolitz holds a B.S. degree in
Psychology, and has completed graduate course work both in Environmental
Studies and Education. She has more than 10 years of professional
experience in program coordination, environmental education, and public
outreach. Ms. Kolitz worked as part of the Education Department of
Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Alison Walker is EEI
Program Professional at Wolfson Campus. She has worked in environmental
education, community outreach, and professional development for more
than 12 years as an adjunct professor, and at Fairchild Tropical Botanic
Garden and the US Department of Agriculture. Ms. Walker received her
B.S. and M.S. degrees in Plant Sciences from University of Florida.
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