Promote Environmental Education in Special Schools through STEAM Education and Service Learning

Overview

As society environmental awareness increases, many environmental and environmental protection policies have been implemented in recent years, including controlling disposable plastic products and promoting renewable energy. However, it is difficult for students with intellectual disabilities to effectively grasp environmental awareness.

In view of this, the school uses STEAM education and service learning to teach environmental education-related issues in its school-based curriculum. For design and technology subjects, teachers will ask students to make some common household items (such as coasters) using fallen trees due to bad weather and plastic lunch boxes. Students will then draw patterns on it based on themes to develop their artistic potential.

In terms of service learning, the school has also set up ‘Environmental Ambassadors’ and organised service learning activities such as cleaning the beach and using renewable energy bicycles to charge junior primary students tablet computers, so that students can reflect on and cherish energy. In addition, the school has also installed solar panel power-generating planting boxes in the new wing of the school building. Students also learn how to use the Internet of Things to control lights and water in the field of technology, optimising the campus environment with renewable energy and environmentally friendly methods. Moreover, the school will cooperate with tertiary institutions in the STEAM learning area class to use design thinking to consider the placement of solar panels for maximum efficiency.

In this seminar, the speaker will introduce the teaching activities of the school in promoting environmental education.