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ECOLOGICAL
LITERACY
CHAPTER 6
 Ecological literacy refers to an individual’s
understanding not only of ecological
concepts, but also of his or her place in the
ecosystem.
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Meena & Alison 2009

 Characterizing an
ecoliterate person
Dr. Tom Puk (2002) of Lakehead University
characterized an ecologically literate person of the
21st century as “the responsible, lifelong learner
who strives to improve the human condition and
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the environment within the context of self, human

groups, the biosphere, and the ecosphere”
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01 inquirer
Who actively secures the basic skills and
knowledge in order to carry out ecological
responsibilities.
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02 Reflective learner
Who understands the value and limitations of
human knowledge, the power and limitations of
the human world.
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03
Intelligently self-
directed
Who engages in self-appraisal, sets new learning
objectives, develops plan to achieve those
objectives.
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Morally
04 Responsible
Who governs actions with percepts (responsibility,
seeking justice and equality for all) that maintains
harmonious relationships
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05
Ecologically
Responsible
Who embodies ecological ideals in daily
life
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06
Seek Self-
Transcendence
Who moves beyond the limitations of personal ego
by identifying human groups.
 Environmental
Literacy, Ecological
Literacy, And
Ecoliteracy
Glaiza Versoza Doydora
BSED II
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 Frameworks for ecoliteracy exhibit a
high degree of similarity with
frameworks for environmental literacy,
in that both sets include similar
affective, knowledge, cognitive skills,
and behavioral components.
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 General Dominant educational objectives Primary pedagogical Examples of strategies
Conceptions of approaches
environment

Environme Problem -Develop problem-solving skills, Cognitive -Case study, issue

ntal Field of from diagnosis to action Pragmatic analysis, problem-
Literacy values -Develop a system of ethics Affective/Moral solving project
Adopt environmentally -Analysis and
responsible behaviors clarification of values,
criticism of social
values
Object of
study
-Acquire knowledge of ecological
concepts and principles
-Cognitive
-Experimental -Observation,
system -Develop skills related to the demonstration,
scientific method: observation experimentation
and experimentation -Case study,
-Develop systems thinking environmental system
analysis and synthesis analysis, construction
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-Understand environmental of ecosystem models

realities in view of informed
decision-making
 What is environmental literacy?

An individual’s understanding, skills and motivation

to make responsible decisions that considers his or
her relationships to natural systems, communities
and future generations.
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Example: Oregon
 Oregon is a world leader in cutting-edge
environmental practices

States and countries across the globe look to

Oregon for leadership and expertise in
developing green and sustainable communities. 
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 What is the meaning of ecological
literacy?
According to Garrett Hardin, is the ability to ask,
"What then?"
In a sense, ecological literacy is about understanding
how our activities--including reading and writing--
not only impact the earth but fit into the complex
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web of ecological relationships within which we

live.
 "To become ecologically literate, one must certainly be
able to read and, I think, even like to read. Ecological
literacy also presumes as ability to use numbers, and
the ability to know what is countable and what is not,
which is to say the limits of numbers. . . . Ecological
literacy also requires the more demanding capacity to
observe nature with insight, a merger of landscape and
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mindscape.” -David Orr

  
What is the difference between ecological
literacy environmental literacy and eco
literacy?

In contrast with frameworks for environmental

literacy, which mainly focus on the
environment as a series of issues to be
resolved through values and action,
frameworks for ecological
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literacy emphasize that knowledge about the

environment is necessary for informed
decision-making.
Ecoliteracy Shared resource for -Promote and contribute -Cognitive Case study, social
sustainable living Gaia to economic -Pragmatic marketing, sustainable
development that -Holistic consumption activities,
addresses social equity -Intuitive/Creative sustainable living
and ecological management project
sustainability immersion, visualization,
-Develop the many creative workshops.
dimensions of one’s
being in interaction with
all aspects of the
environment
-Develop an organic
understanding of the
world and participatory
action in and with the
environment
 What is ecoliteracy?
Ecological literacy (also referred to as ecoliteracy)

is the ability to understand the natural systems

that make life on earth possible. To be
ecoliterate means understanding the
principles of organization of ecological
communities (i.e. ecosystems) and using
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those principles for creating sustainable

human communities
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 Greening Initiatives In College And
Universities

Increased awareness of environmental degradation

and concern for its rehabilitation have prompted
colleges and universities to green their campuses
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01
Environmental And Economic
Sustainability
A system-wide culture of sustainability helps preserve and
enhance what the institution values today as well as for the
future.
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02
Reputation As The Leader Through
Example
As colleges and universities offer courses in environmental
management, engineering, laws and regulations, and assessment,
greening initiatives provide them opportunities.
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03 Economic Benefits
A routine, curriculum-based, environmental audit program that
reveals waste and inefficiency associated with campus activities.
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04
“Real-Life” work experience for
your students
Environmental audits and pollution prevention evaluations can
be integrated into the curriculum, providing students with hands-
on investigate and problem-solving experience that they can take
with them when they enter the workforce.
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05
Improved quality of life in the
campus
A Green Campus is a cleaner, safer, and healthier place to live
and work.
 In schools, teachers are also required to shift
emphasis through the following:
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From Parts To
Whole
Subjects are to be taught as integrated, not
as isolated units in the curriculum
01
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From Objects To
Relationships
An ecosystem is a community. Communities are
characterized by sets, netwoks, or relationships.
02
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03
From Objective knowledge to contextual
knowledge

This shift requires one to explain properties of the parts

within the of the whole or in terms of environments
andcontext systems.
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From quantity to quality

Assessments have traditionally emphasized standardized
testing in terms of quantities, numeric scores, and
measurements.
04
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From structure to process

Systems are dynamic and evolving. Thus, the understanding of
living structures is linked to understanding renewal, change, and
transformation.
05
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From contents to patterns

When we draw maps of relationships, we discover certain
configurations of relationships that appear again and again.
06
 THAT’S ALL THANK YOU!
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