Description
College students represent the future leaders of a world that will face the impacts of climate change. However, classes on sustainability and climate change typically are not mandatory for university students. Previous studies indicated that there is currently a gap in climate change education at the college and university level. While many colleges offer elements of climate change education in lower level earth science courses, most students are not required to take these courses. This literature review examines perceptions and beliefs of college students and the general public using results of surveys by the Climate Education Partners (CEP) and Jamelske et al. 2015 to inform a proposal for a climate education model at the university level. The proposal is informed by the methods of the CEP in creating the 2050 Report and uses the Tripartite Integration Model of Social Influence (TIMSI) as a theoretical framework for social psychology and behavior in order to implement a structure that is compatible with university students? responses to information. The proposal details a framework for a climate change education model for university students in all steps of planning and implementation. The proposal also includes a pre- and post-education survey as a measurement of effectiveness for the framework of climate change education.
A Model of Climate Change Education at the University Level
College students represent the future leaders of a world that will face the impacts of climate change. However, classes on sustainability and climate change typically are not mandatory for university students. Previous studies indicated that there is currently a gap in climate change education at the college and university level. While many colleges offer elements of climate change education in lower level earth science courses, most students are not required to take these courses. This literature review examines perceptions and beliefs of college students and the general public using results of surveys by the Climate Education Partners (CEP) and Jamelske et al. 2015 to inform a proposal for a climate education model at the university level. The proposal is informed by the methods of the CEP in creating the 2050 Report and uses the Tripartite Integration Model of Social Influence (TIMSI) as a theoretical framework for social psychology and behavior in order to implement a structure that is compatible with university students? responses to information. The proposal details a framework for a climate change education model for university students in all steps of planning and implementation. The proposal also includes a pre- and post-education survey as a measurement of effectiveness for the framework of climate change education.