Open Access Peer-reviewed

Environmental Education – A Model of the Gulf Stream

Renata Holubova
Department of Experimental Physics, Faculty of Science, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic
American Journal of Educational Research. 2015, 3(8), 1057-1061. DOI: 10.12691/education-3-8-18
Published online: August 25, 2017

Abstract

Environmental education is a part of the Framework Educational Programme for Basic Education in the Czech Republic and is supported all over the world. The goal of our activity was the use of models in environmental education. Our attention was focused on the knowledge about one of the environmental problems due to global warming – the properties of the Gulf Stream, and its improvement. The Gulf Stream is one of the most famous sea currents and, in connection with the problems of global warming, also much discussed. The aim of the project was to prepare a simple flow model of the Gulf Stream. In the first part of the paper the impact of environmental education is mentioned. In the second part the model of the Gulf Stream is described. The model is the starting point for the discussion and further reading about the ocean and atmosphere transport of heat. The key points of the discussed problems are the impact of the Gulf Stream, and the slowing down of the Gulf Stream. It is thought that gen Y are the best educated generation in environmental problems. But most information Millennials get from TV, Internet, newspapers, and sometimes the information are questionable and insufficient. This model will help the learners get deeper knowledge of heat transport.

Keywords:

environmental education, model, gulf stream, experiment
[1]  Archer, D., Rahmstorf, S. The climate crisis, Cambridge University Press, 2010.
 
[2]  Brophy, J., Motivating students to learn, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers Mahwah, New Jersey London, 2004.
 
[3]  Framework Educational Programme for Basic Education, VUP Prague 2007.
 
[4]  Franz, J. (2010). Improving K–12 science education. American Physical Society, 19(7). [Online]. Available: http://www.aps.org/publications/apsnews/201007/backpage.cfm. [Accessed Jun.30, 2015].
 
[5]  Flannery, T., We are the weather makers, Text Publishing, 2010.
 
[6]  Gyory, J., Mariano, A.J., Ryan, E.H., “The Gulf Stream.” Ocean Surface Currents.”. [Online]. Available: http://oceancurrents.rsmas.miami.edu/atlantic/gulf-stream.html. [Accessed Jun.30, 2015].
 
[7]  Holubova, R. (2005). Environmental physics: Motivation in physics teaching and learning. Journal of Physics Teacher Education On-line, 3(1), 17-20.
 
[8]  Holubova, R., “Improving the quality of teaching by modern teaching methods”, Problems of education in the 21st century , 25, 58-65, 2010.
 
[9]  Hunt, J., Tucciarone, J., “The Challenges and Opportunities of Teaching „Generation Y”, Journal of Graduate Medical education, 458-464, December 2011.View Article  PubMed
 
[10]  Mac Leod, K., “Physics Education and STSE: Perspectives From the Literature”, European J of Physics Education , 4(4), 2013.
 
[11]  Mamlok, R., “How can we motivate high school students to study science?”, Science Education International, 22(1), 5-17, 2011.
 
[12]  Metz, S., “Motivating the Millennials”, The Science Teacher, 78(6), 2011.
 
[13]  Minobe, S., Kuwano-Yushida, A., Komori, N., Xie, S.-P., Small, R.J., “Influence of the Gulf Stream on the troposphere”, Nature, March 13, 2008.View Article
 
[14]  Ocean service education – currents, [Online]. Available: http://oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/currents/06conveyor.html, [Accessed Jun.30, 2015].
 
[15]  Osborne, J., Dillon, J., Science education in Europe: Critical reflections, London: The Nuffield Foundation, 2008.
 
[16]  Palmer, D., “What is the best way to motivate students in science?”, Teaching Science: The Journal of the Australian Science Teachers, 53(1), 38-45, 2007.
 
[17]  Taylor, F.W., Elementary climate physics, Oxford University Press, 2005.
 
[18]  UNECO-UNEP International Environmental Education Programme, Environmental Education Series 9, Division of Science, Technical and Environmental Education [Online]. Available: http://www.unesco.org/education/pdf/333_14.pdf. [Accessed Jun.30, 2015].