This is a press release from Tide~ Global Learning.
Tide~ global learning is a network of teachers and educators. The Elephant Times is our magazine. At the time of COP27, we began a series of online conversations about the educational implications of climate change. This engaged teachers, academics, and education leaders, culminating in two events in Summer 2023. Elephant Times 4.2 distils some of the key thinking from that process and invites further dialogue.
This online magazine aspires to stimulate conversations within the education community and with those concerned about, or campaigning on climate issues. It seeks fresh thinking on the context of COP28. The magazine brings together a variety of work and features much to celebrate. It values an “educational ecosystem of change – rich with initiative”. It notes that much effective change in education has evolved from teacher initiative – sometimes policy catches up – sometimes it is slow to do so!
Clearly there is a need for learning about climate change. However, engaging with the realities of climate change is not, as some seem to assume, about getting a particular message across – about new tick boxes. It raises deeper questions about the development of education opportunities that equip students [and society] with skills, ideas and dispositions for a future that will be impacted by climate change and the complex local and global consequences. The Elephant Times proposes an education-driven agenda responding to the climate crisis. It raises questions about the needs of learners, the role of teachers, and the culture of schools. It does not make recommendations as such, other than the need to talk about such an agenda. Learner entitlement is seen to be significant but to be effective it is inextricably linked to the need for teacher entitlement.
The need is urgent, policy is complacent, and resources are limited. Therefore, the focus is on teacher networks, school leaders, unions, subject associations, and leadership organisations building a disposition to such entitlements – and, at least in the first instance, applying such an approach within existing capacity.
We invite you to talk about it. What could you do to take initiative? We invite you to network your ideas.
The magazine has five sections:
1. Confusion in the room – yet much to be optimistic about?
2. Teacher Entitlement – professional implications?
3. Young people in the lead – responding to their challenges?
4. A crisis of imagination? – thinking afresh about schools.
5. A rethink – We need to move to the right!
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More information available from Scott Sinclair, Chair Tide~ global learning scott.7cs.org@gmail.comCategory: BlogBy NAEE Web Team