Education Commons^™

Taste Of Place And Provenance, Alison Stevens

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Bioregionalism is a framework that could serve to bridge the gap between humans and the land that they inhabit. A bioregional food system exemplifies the reduction of large scale agriculture and economy to one that falls within climatologically and geographically determined regions, superseding anthropogenic and political borders. Not only would a bioregional food system encourage mindfulness of the ecosystem that surrounds a community, but create a secure, community-based economy scaled to match the bioregion. The valuation of products and crops of local farmers and artisans would reflect the reliance on bioregionally specific wares, as well as ground members in their …

The Global Energy Crisis, Katie Calhoun

Facing the Future Lessons

The world is at an energy tipping point. Countries and communities can choose to be proactive or wait and be reactive, however it is much less costly to do the former. In this project, high school environmental science students will examine the current energy use and concerns in a named country or community, analyze the pros and cons of the current energy situation and how it effects the social, economic and environmental aspects of the culture, then create a more sustainable, resilient plan for that country.

Increasing Sustainability In Global Supply Chains, Daniel Stuesse

WWU Honors College Senior Projects

Increasing stakeholder concerns about sustainability have recently led businesses to consider environmental, economic, and social issues in supply chain management. This three-component approach to sustainability is known as the “triple bottom line.” The triple bottom line was developed in the 1990s with the intention of providing a framework for evaluating organizational economics along with social and environmental impacts. Climate change and resource depletion necessitate improvements to the sustainability of the current global supply chain to avoid the planet becoming unable to meet the needs of future generations. This paper uses the triple bottom line to examine the current sustainability of …

Western Washington University Sustainability Action Plan 2015 - 2035, Western Washington University

Western Sustainability

Western’s Sustainability Action Plan is the University’s road map for protecting local and global ecology, upholding social equity, creating economic vitality, and maintaining human health.

Newspapers In Education: Global Issues And Sustainable Solutions, Facing The Future, Western Washington University

Facing the Future Lessons

This curriculum will spark student interest in global and environmental issues and sustainable solutions through 20 thought-provoking articles that first appeared in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's Newspapers in Education series Skills for Everyday Living. This 20-article series of case studies and classroom activities can be used in full or in part to study specific topics. All articles include a student activity and "take action" idea.

Evaluation Of Community-Academic Partnership: Lessons From Latinos In A Network For Cancer Control, Hope Corbin, Maria E. Fernandez, Patricia D. Mullen

Woodring College of Education Faculty Publications

Established in 2002, Latinos in a Network for Cancer Control (LINCC) is a community-academic network supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Cancer Institute. LINCC includes >130 individuals from 65 community and academic organizations committed to reducing cancer-related health disparities. Using an empirically derived systems model—the Bergen Model of Collaborative Functioning—as the analytic frame, we interviewed 19 partners to identify challenges and successful processes. Findings indicated that sustained partner interaction created “meaningful relationships” that were routinely called upon for collaboration. The leadership was regarded positively on vision, charisma, and capacity. Limitations included over-reliance on a …

The Heart Of Sustainability: Big Ideas From The Field Of Environmental Education And Their Relationship To Sustainability Education Or What's Love Got To Do With It?, Donald J. Burgess, Tracie Johannessen

Secondary Education

A common raven suddenly begins to call from Cornwall Park. I rush to the front porch trying to see what the commotion is all about. Two adult ravens are flapping high over the green canopy, croaking vigorously. Like vigilant Block Watch captains protecting the integrity of a neighborhood, ravens exhibit exceptional observational prowess coupled with intense fidelity to family and place. I scan the forest with binoculars and notice three raven fledglings perched in a scraggly birch tree at the edge of the forest. Scanning higher, I finally detect a distant bald eagle circling over the urban park where the …

Real World Math: Engaging Students Through Global Issues, Teacher Guide, Facing The Future, Western Washington University

Facing the Future Publications

When introducing new mathematics concepts to students, you may have heard them ask, “When will I ever use this?” and “How does this affect me?” Real World Math: Engaging Students through Global Issues promotes student engagement by providing real data on global issues with a focus on practical solutions.

Foundational algebra and geometry skills are taught here within the context of global issues and sustainability. Sustainability refers to the ability of current generations to meet their needs without limiting the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Students will investigate a range of sustainability issues, including quality of life, …

Teaching Global Sustainability In The Primary Grades: A K-4 Curriculum Guide, Facing The Future, Western Washington University

Facing the Future Lessons

Global sustainability is an attempt to provide the best outcomes for the world’s human and natural environments - both now and into the indefinite future. The guiding principle of sustainability is that current generations are able to meet their needs without jeopardizing the ability of future generations to meet their needs. To achieve this goal, the health and needs of the environment, the economy, and society are considered.

Global sustainability education provides a practical and inspired framework for young people to understand contemporary issues not as insurmountable problems, but as opportunities to create a better world. It provides knowledge, skills, …