THEORIES AND RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION

This course, part of the Master’s Degree in Environmental Humanities, explores research in environmental and sustainability education through a focus on participatory approaches with children. It traces the relationship between environmental movements and environmental education, examining how participatory research positions children as active contributors to knowledge production. Particular attention is given to children’s agency, their developing capacity to participate, and models for their meaningful involvement in social and environmental contexts.The course introduces key elements of educational research design alongside participatory and arts-based methods, and combines theoretical input with laboratory activities addressing real-world environmental and community-based issues.
By the end of the course, students will be able to critically engage with and apply participatory approaches to research in environmental education.

1. Knowledge and Understanding
• Understand participatory research with children in environmental and sustainability education.
• Know the main research methods and key elements of educational research design.
• Understand participatory methods and their role in environmental knowledge production.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
• Be able to design and conduct participatory research involving children in environmental contexts.
• Be able to apply appropriate research methods and participatory techniques.

3. Making Judgements
• Be able to critically analyse and evaluate research methodologies and participatory approaches in environmental education.

4. Communication Skills
• Be able to communicate and present research processes and findings to different audiences.

5. Learning Skills
• Be able to independently analyse scientific literature and develop a reflective approach to research.

This course is an elective course offered to students enrolled in the Master’s Degree in Environmental Humanities. No prior background in the subject is required.

Evolution of environmental movements and their relationship with environmental education, leading to participatory approaches with children; participatory research with children in environmental and sustainability education; children’s agency, developing capacity to participate, and models of participation in social and environmental contexts; principles and frameworks for involving children in research, with reference to children’s rights and participation; fundamentals of research design, including types of research (qualitative and quantitative), research questions, and variables; participatory and arts-based methods for engaging children with environmental and community-based issues.

BANZATO M., Lectures and written notes for the course Theories And Research In Environmental Education (2026 Edition), available on the Moodle platform.

The lecture notes will be accompanied by a selection of scientific articles, which will be specified and made available on the Moodle platform throughout the lectures. This collective material constitutes the reference text and the official exam program for all students.

IMPORTANT:
Students who are unable to complete their preparation in the classroom can access the study materials on Moodle, which will be identical to those used by students attending in presence.

Student assessment will consist of a written exam featuring 11 multiple-choice questions (1 point each) and 4 short-answer open questions (up to a maximum of 5 points each). Exam duration: 50 minutes.
The questions are designed to assess both the theoretical knowledge acquired and the skills of understanding, analysis, and application to case studies relevant to the discipline.
The open questions are evaluated based on the following criteria: (a) accuracy and relevance of theoretical knowledge; (b) ability to understand and re-elaborate the content; (c) appropriate use of disciplinary language; (d) clarity and effectiveness of expression.
A score of up to 2 points will be added to the written exam grade for the drafting of a participatory research proposal involving children in the field of environmental education, carried out in small groups. This activity develops progressively throughout the teaching in blended mode, according to the phases outlined in the lecture schedule.

scritto

Il/la docente ha il dovere di vigilare affinché siano rispettate le regole di autenticità e originalità delle prove d'esame. Di conseguenza, nei casi in cui vi sia il sospetto di un comportamento irregolare, l'esame può prevedere un ulteriore approfondimento, contestuale alla prova d'esame, che potrà essere realizzato anche in modalità differente rispetto alle modalità sopra riportate.

A. Scores in the 18–22 range will be awarded in the presence of:
- sufficient knowledge and understanding of the syllabus;
limited ability to analyse and interpret data, with partial autonomy of judgement;
sufficient communication skills and use of disciplinary language.

B. Scores in the 23–26 range will be awarded in the presence of:

satisfactory knowledge and understanding;
adequate ability to analyse and interpret data, with a fair degree of autonomy of judgement;
adequate communication skills and generally appropriate use of disciplinary language.

C. Scores in the 27–30 range will be awarded in the presence of:

good or very good knowledge and understanding;
good or very good ability to analyse and interpret data, with autonomy of judgement;
appropriate and effective communication skills, with accurate use of disciplinary language.

D. Honours (cum laude) will be awarded in the presence of excellent knowledge and understanding, strong analytical and interpretative abilities, full autonomy of judgement, and highly effective communication skills.

The course adopts a blended learning approach, structured into 10 in-presence lectures and 5 online sessions. Teaching activities include traditional lectures, guided discussions, and small-group workshop activities specifically dedicated to the progressive development of the participatory research proposal involving children in the field of environmental education.

To access the Moodle platform, please write to banzato@unive.it with the following email subject line: THEORIES AND RESEARCH IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ACCESSO MOODLE

IMPORTANT:
Students who are unable to complete their preparation in the classroom can access the study materials on Moodle, which will be identical to those provided to students attending in presence.

Questo insegnamento tratta argomenti connessi alla macroarea "Capitale umano, salute, educazione" e concorre alla realizzazione dei relativi obiettivi ONU dell'Agenda 2030 per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile