Environmental Education, 21st Century Style:

Preparing Students for Green Jobs

Laura DowneyKansas Association for Conservation and

Environmental Education (KACEE)www.kacee.org and

www.kansasgreenschools.org

A Green Pathway to CTE and 21st Century Learning

A Look at Green Jobs in Kansas• In May 2010, the Kansas

Department of Labor released the first-ever Kansas Green Jobs Report, a survey of 6,000 Kansas employers.

• Employers were asked to estimate how many employees they would be hiring to perform “green” jobs.

• http://www.dol.ks.gov/LMIS/doc/KansasGreenJobsReport.pdf

What is a “Green Job?”• Primary Green Jobs

produce a green product or provide a green service:– Conducting research to

develop wind turbines or solar panels

– Increase green practices and activities within a company

– Manufacture and/or install solar panels, energy efficient windows, etc.

• Support Green Jobs assist those performing Primary Green Jobs:– Teaching courses and/or

training programs related to green knowledge or skills

– Providing financial, legal, personnel, or other products/services to companies engaging in green activities

– Selling solar panels, low-flush toilets, etc.

Kansas is well-positionedto add Green Jobs

• In 2009, Kansas already had more than 20,000 primary green jobs and 26,000 support green jobs!

• This is equivalent to 1.5 percent and 1.9 percent of Kansas employment, so there is lots of room to grow.

• Of the green jobs already existing:

What is the future forGreen Jobs in Kansas?

• Kansas is projected to have more than 30,000 primary green jobs by 2012

• The largest increases will be in the renewable energy area (121.4 percent)

• Increases are also expected in the areas of increasing energy efficiency, clean transportation and fuels, agriculture and natural resource conservation and pollution prevention/environmental clean-up

Educational Requirements ofGreen Jobs in Kansas

• 41.5 percent required only a high school diploma or GED

• 28 percent had no educational requirement

• Just 10.5 percent required a bachelor’s degree

• 58.6 percent of employers are using on-the-job training to prepare workers for green jobs

• The most common green skills and knowledge needed by employers is related to waste minimization, energy conservation, and environmental policies/regulations

Career and Technical Education

• Connecting students to the real world• Creating interest in fields with growing

demand for workers, such as green jobs

How can Environmental Education Help Prepare Students for Green Jobs?• EE can serve as a real

world entry point for students to discover an interest in the environment

• EE can provide a basic understanding of how ecosystems work and how human actions affect the environment

How can Environmental Education Help Prepare Students for Green Jobs?

• EE can introduce students to environmental issues such as energy production and use, and help them learn the skills needed to solve challenges

Small wind turbine at Goddard HS used to power an aerator for the school pond.

EE can set students up for success in Green Jobs through 21st Century

Learning Skills

EE’s learning approach models processes for problem-solving and critical thinking

• Consensus building• Inquiry-driven• Connection to service

learning• Involving the community • Project-based• Working in teams• Presenting your case, ie

town hall meetings• Representing viewpoints

different than your own

21st Century Learning and CTE21st Century Unifying Themes:•Global Awareness•Financial, Economic, Business and Entrepreneurial Literacy•Civic Literacy•Health Literacy•Environmental Literacy

21st Century Unifying Theme: Environmental Literacy

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the environment and the circumstances and conditions affecting it, particularly as relates to air, climate, land, food, energy, water and ecosystems

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of society’s impact on the natural world (e.g., population growth, population development, resource consumption rate, etc.)

• Investigate and analyze environmental issues, and make accurate conclusions about effective solutions

• Take individual and collective action towards addressing environmental challenges (e.g., participating in global actions, designing solutions that inspire action on environmental issues)

Kansas Green Schools Program• School projects connect

students to “real world” experiences– Explore ways to make schools

more environmentally friendly (collecting and analyzing assessment data)

– Make presentations, communicate ideas through video and social media

– Project planning, implementation, and management

– Raise funds, learn about processes for project approval (school board meetings)

Olathe South HS Compostable trays and

bottle recycling in Olathe South HS Cafeteria

Clifton-Clyde School District

• USD 224 Superintendent Brian Pekarek and students from Clifton-Clyde High School during their "Wind Energy Day”

• USD 224 elementary students using composting tumblers for lunch waste

Starside Elementary, Desoto

• “Mother Nature,” Bob the Ball and students at Starside Elementary Pond• Students digging into the vermicompost they harvested

EE can help prepare students for jobs that haven’t been invented yet!

• Supports school CTE efforts

• Provides opportunities to connect with community

• Project-based learning = experience with career-building challenges and successes

Thanks for coming!

• How else might EE support CTE and 21st Century Skills?

• How can we support your CTE efforts?

Laura DowneyKACEE

ldowney@kacee.org785-532-3322