Professional Learning Course: Nature Connection for Primary Educators
Nature Connection for Primary School Educators
The research is in!
There is strong evidence that being outdoors at school demonstrates "a strong relationship with lower levels of anxiety" (de la Osa et al., 2024) and that "people with more personal contact with nature are more likely to engage in activities or behaviors that support and protect it" (Soga & Gaston, 2024).
Are you an educator who can see the benefits of nature connection for your students? Would you like to learn more about the hows and whys of teaching through/with nature?
Join us for an interactive online professional learning series designed to support educators bring nature connection into everyday teaching and learning.
Designed by the team at the Centre for Ecological Learning (CEL) and guided by experienced nature connection educator and facilitator Dr Lisa Siegel, you'll participate in research-based, experiential learning while developing practical strategies you can apply in your own school setting.
The course is divided into three modules, and you will receive in-depth learning materials for all three modules one week before the module, so you can work through them at your own pace. The learning materials include readings, resources, and videos.
The three online sessions will take place every fortnight, giving you the opportunity to dive in and experiment with the learning material between each session. Each of the three live sessions will be interactive and experiential, with lots of opportunity for questions and discussion. All sessions will be recorded in case you can't make it to the live session, and available for one year following the course.
You will receive a Certificate of Completion for 12 hours of Professional Learning upon the completion of the course.
Delivered across three sessions:
- 5:00 am - 6:30 am
A Sense of Self and Place in Nature - "Active Hope" for educators - 13 August
MODULE 1: A sense of self and place in nature – “Active Hope” for Educators. We are living in interesting and concerning times, and our students are more than aware of the threats that are currently facing the planet. In light of this, it is important to deepen our understanding of the principles and benefits of nature connection, and learn about the research that supports nature connection education. This session explores the concept of “humans as nature” as well as eco-philosopher Joanna Macy’s concept of "Active Hope". We will learn how to help ourselves and our students develop stronger connections (or reconnections) to the natural world, especially their local Country, as well as building skills and agency in how to care for it… and for ourselves. By the end of Module 1, the tools you will have in your toolbox will be… • How to use the Active Hope Spiral • Nature Journaling for yourself and your students • Creating respectful and relevant Acknowledgements of Country • Sit Spots for yourself and your students • Research about the importance of place-based education - "Country as Teacher"
- 5:00 am - 6:30 am
Environmental Skills Development - Models of Ecological Learning - 27 August
MODULE 2: Environmental skills development - Models of Ecological Learning. School recycling programs and gardening lessons are great, but there is much more to nature connection and environmental education than that. We know that the natural world is deeply interconnected – how can we use that understanding in our everyday teaching practice? In this session, you will learn about best-practice pedagogies and models of intraconnected learning, including interdisciplinary teaching tools that can include and expand explicit teaching and differentiation models. Place-responsive learning and Traditional Ecological Knowledges will form the base of this week’s learnings. By the end of Module 2, the tools you will have in your toolbox will be… • How to incorporate interdisciplinary nature education • Environmental storytelling as an everyday teaching strategy • How to facilitate Animal Forms exercises for your students • Bird language for yourself and your students • How to incorporate nature connection games into your classroom
- 5:00 am - 6:30 am
Planning, Program Design and the Curriculum - implementing ecological learning in your own framework. - 10 September
MODULE 3: Planning, program design, and the curriculum - implementing ecological learning in your own framework This session is your chance to get your hands dirty (so to speak!) as we work together to create a learning plan for your own classroom. We will be specifically mapping to the Australian Curriculum but are able to incorporate state-based curricula as well. Topics such as curriculum integration, working with your school leadership, parental engagement and risk assessments will be explored – not only the possible (minimal) risks of facilitating nature connection education, but the very real risks to children of NOT facilitating nature connection education! By the end of Module 3, the tools you will have in your toolbox will be… • Clear interdisciplinary mappings of environmental/sustainability education within the curriculum. • How to get colleagues/ school management on board - presenting the risk/ benefit analysis • Research backed evidence of the benefits of nature connection education. • Practical strategies for integrating nature connection into your wider school setting. • Sharing of national resources and networking opportunities.
Your Facilitator
Dr Lisa Siegel
Lisa Siegel lives and learns on Gumbaynggirr country, also known as the Mid-North Coast of NSW. She has been a passionate environmental educator for the last three decades, with one of the highlights being the ten years she spent planning and co-facilitating nature connection camps and programs for young people. Lisa worked as a primary school teacher with the NSW Dept of Education at Cascade Environmental Education Centre (EEC) before taking up her current role as a Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Southern Cross University, where she teaches Environmental Education to pre-service teachers and continues her research into the interconnected stories of environmental educators. Lisa is a founding member of the Centre for Ecological Learning in Bellingen NSW, and is currently National President of AAEE.
Course fee
AAEE Members: $180
Non-members: $300
Become an AAEE member to access discounted professional learning, connect with a national network of environmental educators, and support the future of environmental education in Australia.
If finances are a challenge, please contact us if you would like to apply for a AAEE member scholarship - email us at admin@aaee.org.au.
Centre for Ecological Learning
This Professional Learning series in presented by AAEE in partnership with the Centre of Ecological Learning (CEL).
CEL offers Earth-based, immersive educational experiences for people of all ages, deepening our connection with ourselves and the natural world.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
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