I recently* published an article in the Canadian Journal of Environmental Education that provides a rationale for in-depth and imaginative study as part of an ecological approach to teaching. In other words, Learning in Depth meets Imaginative Ecological Education! (I say “recently” because the journal came out in 2017 but it is a 2015 volume!)
Title: Supporting Ecological Understanding through In-Depth and Imaginative Study of a Place-Based Topic or Issue
Gillian Judson
Abstract: Many have observed that the curriculum is a mile wide and scarcely an inch deep. This article provides a rationale for including in-depth study of a place-based/local topic within educational programs aimed at cultivating ecological understanding. Following a brief exploration of some of the obstacles to in-depth learning, it describes the ways in which in-depth and imaginative investigation can support ecological thinking. Consideration of beliefs and values concludes the piece; ideological and pedagogical factors will influence how teachers feel about implementing an imaginative, in-depth program of study and, ultimately, whether it becomes part of their professional practice.
