An Ecological Footprint for an Early Learning Centre: Identifying Opportunities for Early Childhood Sustainability Education through Interdisciplinary Research

Autor/inn/en	McNichol, Heidi; Davis, Julie Margaret; O'Brien, Katherine R.
Titel	An Ecological Footprint for an Early Learning Centre: Identifying Opportunities for Early Childhood Sustainability Education through Interdisciplinary Research
Quelle	In: Environmental Education Research, 17 (2011) 5, S.689-704 (16 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1350-4622
DOI	10.1080/13504622.2011.572161
Schlagwörter	Building Design; Early Childhood Education; Energy Conservation; Young Children; Program Effectiveness; Foreign Countries; Research Opportunities; Sustainable Development; Interdisciplinary Approach; Food; Transportation; Land Use; Ecology; Environmental Education; Educational Research; Australia + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Baugestaltung; Early childhood; Education; Frühkindliche Bildung; Frühpädagogik; Energieerhaltung; Energiespeicherung; Frühe Kindheit; Ausland; Forschungshaushalt; Nachhaltige Entwicklung; Fächerübergreifender Unterricht; Fächerverbindender Unterricht; Interdisziplinarität; Lebensmittel; Verkehrswesen; Bodennutzung; Ökologie; Umweltbildung; Umwelterziehung; Umweltpädagogik; Bildungsforschung; Pädagogische Forschung; Australien
Abstract	In this study, engineers and educators worked together to adapt and apply the ecological footprint (EF) methodology to an early learning centre in Brisbane, Australia. Results were analysed to determine how environmental impact can be reduced at the study site and more generally across early childhood settings. It was found that food, transport and energy consumption had the largest impact on the centre's overall footprint. In transport and energy, early childhood centres can reduce their impact through infrastructure and cultural change, in association with changed curriculum strategies. Building design, the type of energy purchased and appliance usage can all be modified to reduce the energy footprint. The transport footprint can be reduced through more families using active and public transport, which can be encouraged by providing information, support and facilities and appropriate siting of new centres. Introducing the concept of ecological footprint in early childhood education may be an effective way to educate children, staff and parents on the links between the food they eat, land usage and environmental impact. This study responds directly to the call in this journal for research focused on early childhood education and for more to be made of interdisciplinary research opportunities. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.) (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10