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Wisconsin Environmental Science
Course Framework
Purpose of the Framework
Development Process
Rationale for Environmental Science Education
Environmental Education and Environmental Science Education
Framework Overview
Themes
Environmental science is interdisciplinary; it embraces a
variety of topics from different areas of study. There are
several guiding principles, or themes, that cut across the many
topics included in the study of environmental science. The
following themes are the big ideas that students should take
away from an environmental science course. The themes should not
be taught in isolation but should be woven throughout all
topics, concepts, and subconcepts that comprise a course.
Science is a process
- Science is a pathway to
understanding the natural world
- Scientific understandings change
over time as new evidence is found
Energy conversions and the
cycling of matter underlie all ecological processes
- Energy cannot be created; it
must come from somewhere
- As energy flows through systems,
at each step more of it becomes unusable
- Matter cannot be created or
destroyed, although it may be rearranged
Earth is one interconnected
system
- Biotic and abiotic components
exist in a dynamic relationship with one another
- Natural systems change over time
and space
- Biogeochemical systems vary in
their ability to recover from disturbances
Humans alter natural systems
- Humans have had and will
continue to have an impact on the environment
- Technology and population growth
have increased both the rate and scale of human impact on
the environment
Environmental problems have a
cultural and social context
- Understanding the role of
cultural, social, and economic factors is vital to the
development of solutions
Human survival depends on
developing practices that will achieve sustainable systems
- Assessing one’s personal
ecological footprint and lifestyle choices is important
- A balanced approach to
conservation and development is required
- Management of natural resources
is essential for achieving sustainable systems
- Development of a personal
environmental ethic helps one make choices and accept
responsibility for those choices
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