Förutsättningar för gymnasieelevers kunskapsbildning och för undervisning inom miljöområdet

Conditions to promote students' knowledge and education about environment

The objectives of this Study are: · To describe and analyse the development of students' knowledge about the environment · To elucidate the nature of student thinking about the environment and, from the findings, to suggest the potential of Environmental Education

Environmental education is multi-disciplinary and complex. The theoretical background to this Study is based on an holistic approach and interrelationships and on ideas from Charles S. Peirce, Gregory Bateson and Lennart Svensson.

Thirty-two students (aged about 19 years) from upper secondary school were interviewed. All attended a class focussing on natural sciences. The subsequent analysis was interpretative, seeking to categorise different kinds of student thinking. The method adopted was contextual analysis.

The Study demonstrates different ways in which students form knowledge. It shows also the difficulties students experience in achieving an holistic approach; they experience problems not only with temporal and spatial dimensions, but also with political and economic considerations.

The Study focuses on "the people and resources in the environment". Resources are related to both nature and culture. The integration of Humanities and Natural Sciences, acting as a basis for Environmental Education, facilitates an holistic approach based on student thinking.