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Using EnviroAtlas to Build K-12 Environmental Literacy
Citation:
Hartley, J., C. Pugh, K. Stevenson, AND J. Daniel. Using EnviroAtlas to Build K-12 Environmental Literacy. Solutions. Solutions, Burlington, VT, 10(2):., (2019).
Impact/Purpose:
Environmental science in the United States is at a critical point: in the face of numerous environmental challenges, the public consistently ranks environmental issues among their lowest priorities, scientific literacy is on the decline, and politics (rather than science) often dictates environmental action. To address this predicament, environmental education provides an opportunity to help individuals and communities feel empowered with knowledge and skills to protect the environment. Specifically, environmental education aims to build environmental literacy, which includes the knowledge, dispositions, competencies, and motivations for environmental action. Harnessing the rapid development of programs focused on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) for K-12 students is one way to build environmental literacy and address environmental issues. STEM education already has been shown to contribute positively to student attitudes on environmental problems.
Description:
Using the three-pronged approach to environmental education (incorporating technology, bridging disciplines, and engaging students with hands-on and outdoor activities), EPA researchers are working to empower educators and students in STEM using accessible tools and resources, including EnviroAtlas (https://www.epa.gov/enviroatlas). EnviroAtlas is a free, web-based, interactive mapping tool that allows users to explore human-environment relationships in a broad range of contexts. EnviroAtlas was designed for research and community decision making, putting maps and peer-reviewed research at the fingertips of many who otherwise would not have access. It contains over 400 map layers on a national scale, with additional layers at a finer resolution for almost 1200 cities and towns across the United States. EnviroAtlas can be used in education to teach digital skills and encourage students to engage with real-world STEM topics via a high-tech tool.
URLs/Downloads:
https://www.thesolutionsjournal.com/article/using-enviroatlas-build-k-12-environmental-literacy/