Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-zzh7m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-27T03:04:59.677Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Impact of AuSSI-WA at a Primary School

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Elaine Lewis ,
Catherine Baudains  and
Caroline Mansfield
Elaine Lewis*
Affiliation:
Murdoch University
Catherine Baudains
Affiliation:
Murdoch University
Caroline Mansfield
Affiliation:
Murdoch University
*
†Email: 19105349@student.murdoch.edu.au
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

This paper presents the findings of the first stage of research on the impact of the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI) at an independent primary school in Western Australia. A longitudinal (20 year) case study is being conducted, utilising data related to Education for Sustainability (EfS) at the school from 1990-2009. 2005 was a critical year for the school because it marked the beginning of participation in the Sustainable Schools Initiative pilot in Western Australia (AuSSI-WA). The research investigates elements of EfS in operation at the school pre- and post- AuSSI-WA, as well as student and teacher outcomes after involvement in the Initiative. An analysis of the initial data suggests that participation in AuSSI-WA enabled the school to engage with a growing commitment to EfS in the context of a whole - school approach.

Keywords

Education for sustainabilitysustainable schoolswhole systems thinking
Type
Research Article
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 25 , 2009 , pp. 45 - 57
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2009

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ASTA. (2005a). Living with Tiger Snakes: School Community Industry Partnerships in Science (SCIps). Canberra: Australian Science Teachers Association and the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training.Google Scholar
ASTA. (2005b). ChrySOLARis: School Community Industry Partnerships in Science (SCIps). Canberra: Australian Science Teachers Association and the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training.Google Scholar
Bazeley, P. (2007). Qualitative data analysis with NVivo. London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research methods in education. New York: Routledge.Google Scholar
DET. (2009a). About AuSSI-WA: Practical guide. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/sustainableschools/detcms/navigation/aussi-wa-toolkit/about-aussi-wa/ Google Scholar
DET. (2009b). AuSSI-WA Toolkit: Key elements rubric. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/sustainableschools/detcms/navigation/aussi-wa-toolkit/review--plan-and-evaluate Google Scholar
DET. (2009c). AuSSI-WA: About the initiative. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/sustainableschools/detcms/portal/ Google Scholar
DET. (2009d). AuSSI-WA: Action learning areas. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculumsupport/sustainableschools/detcms/portal/ Google Scholar
DEWHA. (2009a). Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative. Department of the Environment Water Heritage and the Arts. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.environment.gov.au/education/aussi/index.html Google Scholar
DEWHA. (2009b). Living sustainably: The Australian government's national action plan for education for sustainability. Canberra: Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.Google Scholar
Diamond, J. (2005). Collapse: How societies choose to fail or survive. Camberwell, Victoria: Penguin.Google Scholar
Evans, J., & Boyden, S. (Eds.). (1970). Education and the environmental crisis. Canberra: Australian Academy of Science.Google Scholar
Fien, J. (2001). Education for sustainability: Reorienting Australian schools for a sustainable future. Tela: Environment, Economy and Society, Issue 8. Brisbane: Australian Conservation Foundation, Australian Association of Environmental Education, Trust for Young Australians.Google Scholar
Fien, J., & Gough, A. G. (1996). Environmental education. In Gilbert, R. (Ed.), Studying society and the environment (pp. 200–216). Melbourne: Macmillan.Google Scholar
Findhorn Foundation. (2005). Common ground: The Findhorn Foundation and Community, Moray, Scotland. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.findhorn.org/index.php?tz=-480 Google Scholar
Flannery, T. (2005). The weather makers: The history and future impact of climate change. Melbourne: Text Publishing.Google Scholar
Gausman, D. (2001a). Cosmic education and peace. Surrey, British Columbia: North American Progressive Montessori Teacher Training Program.Google Scholar
Gausman, D. (2001b). The five great lessons. Surrey, British Columbia: North American Progressive Montessori Teacher Training Program.Google Scholar
Goldie, J., Douglas, B., & Furnass, B. (2005). An urgent need to change direction. In Goldie, J., Douglas, B. & Furnass, B. (Eds.), In search of sustainability (pp. 1–15). Collingwood, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing.Google Scholar
Harris, R., & Lewis, E. (2005). Living with Tiger snakes: An example of curriculum integration. National Literacy and Numeracy Week: Best Practice Forum, Highgate Primary School, Perth, WA.Google Scholar
Hayes, M. (2005). Montessori's view of cosmic education. Retrieved November 13, 2009 from http://www.montessori-ami.org/congress/2005sydney/papermh.htm Google Scholar
Heck, D. (2003). The state of environmental education in the Australian school curriculum. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 19, 115–124.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobs, M. (1999). Sustainable development as a contested concept. In Dobson, A. (Ed.), Fairness and futurity (pp. 21–45). Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Kleinnijenhuis, J. (2008). Semantic network analysis: Old ideas and new means to master the information society. Amsterdam: Department of Communication Science, The Network Institute, VU University.Google Scholar
Krippendorff, K. (2004). Content analysis: An introduction to its methodology. London: Sage Publications.Google Scholar
Lemonick, M. (2009). Top 10 myths about sustainability. Scientific American, 19(1), 40–45.Google Scholar
Lewis, E., & Baudains, C. M. (2007a). Whole systems thinking: Education for sustainability at a Montessori school. Eingana: Journal of the Victorian Association for Environmental Education, 30(1), 9–11.Google Scholar
Lewis, E., & Baudains, C. M. (2007b). Raining frogs: An education for sustainability project. SCIOS: Journal of the Science Teachers' Association of Western Australia, 43(3), 25–29.Google Scholar
Lewis, E., Mansfield, C., & Baudains, C. M. (2008). Getting down and dirty: Values in education for sustainability. Issues in Educational Research 18(2), 138–155.Google Scholar
Linke, R. (1980). Environmental education in Australia. Sydney: George Allen & Unwin.Google Scholar
Low, N., Gleeson, B., Green, R., & Radovic, D. (2005). The green city: Sustainable homes, sustainable suburbs. Sydney: University of NSW.Google Scholar
McFarland, S. (1999). Nurturing the peace flower: A model for the science of peace. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ Google Scholar
Montessori, M. (1966). The secret of childhood. New York: Ballantine Books.Google Scholar
Montessori, M. (1967). The discovery of the child. New York: Ballantine Books.Google Scholar
Montessori, M. (1973). From childhood to adolescence. New York: Schocken Books.Google Scholar
Montessori, M. (1992). Education and peace. Oxford: Clio Press.Google Scholar
Musser, G. (2005). The climax of humanity. Scientific American, 29(3), 22–25.Google Scholar
Newman, P. (2005). Sustainability in the wild west (state government). In Hargroves, K. C. & Smith, M. H. (Eds.), The natural advantage of nations (pp. 271–284). London: Earthscan.Google Scholar
Pepper, C. (2007). Leading for sustainability. Unpublished D.Ed., Murdoch University, Perth, WA.Google Scholar
Rennie, L. J., Evans, R. S., & Koul, R. B. (2005). Living with Tiger Snakes: An example of curriculum integration. Australasian Science Education Research Association, WASEA Science Forum, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA.Google Scholar
Rennie, L. J., Evans, R. S., & Koul, R. B. (2006). Raising science awareness: An environmentally focused school-community project. Australasian Science Education Research Association, WASEA Science Forum, Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley, WA.Google Scholar
Ribbons of Blue. (2006). Chrysalis Crusaders. Swan Region, Ribbons of Blue, 17(2), 1.Google Scholar
Richards, L. (2005). Handling qualitative data: A practical guide. London: Sage.Google Scholar
Sterling, S. (2003). Whole systems thinking as a basis for paradigm change in education: Explorations in the context of sustainability. PhD thesis, Centre for Research in Education and the Environment, University of Bath, U.K. Google Scholar
Tilbury, D., Coleman, V., & Garlick, D. (2005). A national review of environmental education and its contribution to sustainability in Australia: School education. Canberra: Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage and Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability.Google Scholar
Tilbury, D., & Cooke, K. (2005). A national review of environmental education and its contribution to sustainability in Australia: Frameworks for sustainability. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Environment and Heritage and Australian Research Institute in Education for Sustainability.Google Scholar
UNCED. (1992). United Nations Conference on Environment and Development: The Earth Summit. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://www.un.org/geninfo/bp/enviro.html Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2005). United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014: International Implementation Scheme. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0014/001486/148654e.pdf Google Scholar
UNESCO. (2008). Education: United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005-2014. Retrieved November 13, 2009, from http://portal.unesco.org/science/en/ev.php-URL_ID=4931&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Google Scholar
Volet, S., Summers, M., & Thurman, J. (2009). High-level co-regulation in collaborative learning. Learning and Instruction, 19(2), 128–143.Google Scholar