Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/educacion-ambiental-para-la-biodiversidad
In today’s world, the environmental crisis is undeniable, fueling social and ecological conflicts globally and locally. This context demands a critical examination of our socio-environmental reality, a rethinking of our connection with nature, and the cultivation of awareness regarding interdependence and co-responsibility. The Coursera course, ‘Educación ambiental para la biodiversidad’ (Environmental Education for Biodiversity), directly addresses these critical needs.
This course provides valuable perspectives, knowledge, and strategies for environmental education, with a specific focus on biodiversity. It’s designed to equip learners with the tools to understand and act upon pressing environmental issues.
The syllabus is thoughtfully structured, beginning with the foundational concepts of ‘Nature, Environment, and Environmental Education.’ This module establishes the environmental issue as a social and ecological one, emphasizing the importance of an integral and situated approach. It introduces core notions of nature, ecology, and environment, positioning environmental education as a vital tool for fostering a different way of inhabiting the world and reconnecting with nature. Furthermore, it highlights environmental literacy as an educational challenge and reflects on the crucial role of environmental educators today, underscoring complexity, interdisciplinarity, and transversality as key characteristics for effective environmental education.
The second module, ‘Biodiversity as a Challenge for Environmental Education,’ delves into biodiversity within the framework of environmental education’s challenges. It defines biodiversity, its components, and characteristics, while identifying problems associated with its loss, such as illegal wildlife trafficking and habitat degradation. The course also introduces the Sustainable Development Goals and pinpoints those specifically related to biodiversity conservation. A significant part of this module is dedicated to reflecting on environmental education for biodiversity as a tool for biocultural change, referencing the Convention on Biological Diversity. It promotes conservation, restoration, sustainable use, and a harmonious relationship with nature, linking these processes to conscious and responsible citizenship.
Moving into ‘Environmental Education for Biodiversity: Pedagogical Strategies for Action,’ the course adopts a pedagogical and didactic approach. It presents pedagogical strategies as key tools for environmental educational action, showcasing various biodiversity-related experiences. Strategies like environmental perception and interpretation, collective mapping, participatory research, and environmental campaigns are offered to inspire practice and enable socio-educational intervention in diverse settings. The module concludes with general guidelines for designing participatory environmental actions, serving as a practical guide for intervention planning.
Finally, ‘Action, Participation, and Environmental Citizenship’ focuses on designing a participatory environmental action based on the course’s content. This module deepens the understanding of building networks and alliances with community actors for environmental actions. It identifies different levels of commitment and participation to foster and sustain these networks. As a concluding invitation, learners are encouraged to design a participatory environmental action addressing a local environmental issue, applying the knowledge and principles of interdependence and co-responsibility gained throughout the course. The course encourages the sharing of these projects, fostering collaborative learning and potential real-world application.
Overall, ‘Educación ambiental para la biodiversidad’ is an exceptionally well-structured and informative course. It successfully bridges theoretical understanding with practical application, making it an invaluable resource for students, educators, and anyone passionate about environmental conservation and sustainable living. I highly recommend this course for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of environmental issues and gain actionable strategies for positive change.
Enroll Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/educacion-ambiental-para-la-biodiversidad