The subject of environmental problems is now one
that is discussed worldwide on a daily basis. Many people are concerned with
and are making a great effort to solve these problems. The point is that we
are not only being affected by these problems, but in fact are causing a great
deal of damage to nature.
What is important to us is what role school education can and should play in
dealing with these problems from global as well as national perspectives. There
is, therefore, an urgent need to develop practical teaching methods and materials
which can be used in teaching children the importance of the environment and
the seriousness of the environmental problems.
In 1997, an investigation center, called "Environmental Education Center
of Miyagi University of Education," was founded as a major educational
institution of Miyagi University of Education. The center also aims to provide
citizens in this area with a facility in which they can study and do some research
on the environment in cooperation with the city and prefectural governments.
The educational principle of the center is the following: the fundamental basis
of environmental education (EE) is to know about the development and structures
of nature and to become considerate towards nature; for this purpose, the center
puts great emphasis on direct involvement with nature, direct learning from
nature, and understanding of the reproductive mechanisms of nature.
In short, the overall function of the center is to develop new approaches to
EE through public symposiums, environmental educational colloquiums, and research
projects in cooperation with citizens in this area.
Some specific aims of the center are the following
・to produce teachers who can put EE into practice
・to provide graduate environmental studies to citizens
・to establish environmental educational studies in school education
・to serve the community through environment educational activities
・to promote information network-base EE
・to establish "field museums for EE and studies."
Fundamental Research of Environmental Education
Field Research of Environmental Education
System Research of Environmental Education
