THEORIES AND RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

This course is one of the educational activities in elective and supplementary disciplines (in the 12 ECTS Environmental Cultures track) of the Master's Degree Course in Environmental Humanities. It takes place during the first semester.
The course aims to introduce and orient students to the basic concepts of educational research; specifically, it will be applied to research on Environmental Education (EE) / Education for Sustainable Development (ESD), a field of inquiry currently in continuous definition and evolution.
Following an introduction and contextualization to the EE/ESD research area, the course is divided into three parts:
- the first part is dedicated to paradigms, theoretical and practical approaches of educational research, mix-methods research and critical education research.
- The second part lays the foundations for the development of an original research project, i.e., research questions, objectives and hypotheses; and techniques and instruments that can be used for data collection, interpretation, analysis and presentation.
- The third part is dedicated to the practical application of the first and second part of the course, through the analysis and evaluation of examples of research papers (EE/ESD).

Knowledge and understanding: Know and identify the main theoretical and practical paradigms and approaches of educational research, mix-methods research and critical education research; know and discriminate the strengths and limitations of each research approach applied to EE/ESD research; know the basis for the development of an EE/ESD applied research project.

Applying knowledge and understanding: Apply theoretical and practical knowledge through the analysis and evaluation of research papers on EE/ESD.

Making judgements: analyse and evaluate research papers in the field of environmental educational research through the criteria provided during the course.

Communication skills: demonstrate mastery of the specialist vocabulary typical of the discipline in order to communicate the results clearly and unambiguously to specialist and non-specialist interlocutors.

This course is a required/elective course offered to students enrolled in the Master Degree in the Environmental Humanities. No prior background in the subject is required.

*First part: theoretical basis of research
1. Introduction to EE/ESD research
2. The nature of enquiry in REE
3. Beliefs, ideologies and research approaches in EE/ESD
4. Research Paradigms

*Second part: practical bases of research
6. Types of research
7. Research literature
7. Research questions
8. Population and samples
9. Variables and assumptions
10. Instruments: questionnaires, interviews, observation etc…

*Third part: practical application
11. Research constracts + attitudes
12. Analysis and evaluation of research papers

Mandatory: Course lessons + research papers made available in MOODLE (for all students)

Optional: Other books, research papers and resources will be communicated during the course.

Assessment of learning will take place through a written exam composed of multiple-choice questions and questions with a short open answer. These questions concern both theoretical knowledge learned during the course and the skills of reasoning and application on case studies.
The evaluation criteria of the short answer questions on theoretical knowledge and reasoning skills are:
(a) the accuracy of the information reported in relation to the theoretical knowledge learned
(b) the appropriate use of the language proper to the discipline;
(c) the validity of the argument;
(d) the effectiveness of communication and presentation.

Blended learning (face-to-face classes and online classes). About eight lessons are delivered on-line and seven in presence. The students will be required to participate actively in the classroom activities in person and/or online (moodle.unive.it).

NOTE: In case the measures on containment and management of the epidemiological emergency by COVID-19 continue, the course will be delivered completely online.

English

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development