Environmental literacy – understanding and acting on environmental issues – is a crucial goal of environmental education. It’s a complex skill, encompassing knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and cognitive abilities. While natural science classes often focus on the knowledge component, our recent research highlighted the vital role art education can play, particularly in shaping our emotional connection with nature.
Milica Marušić Jablanović and Ivan Simić held a plenary presentation by invitation titled “Environmental Literacy in the Context of Art Culture Education” at the International scientific–professional meeting Art and education, organized by the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad, May 24–25 2024 Novi Sad, Serbia.
Traditional science education, with its emphasis on discrete disciplines and knowledge acquisition, often overlooks the crucial affective dimension – how we feel about nature.
Art, with its freedom and capacity for emotional communication, offers a powerful way to connect with nature on a deeper level. Through creative expression, students can explore not only the beauty of the natural world but also the impact of its destruction. Art can effectively communicate the consequences of human actions, offering both warnings and potential solutions. It can evoke emotions, from awe and wonder to concern and outrage, driving home the urgency of environmental issues.
The practical suggestions on how to connect art education and environmental literacy are offered. By weaving environmental themes into art projects, discussions, and creative explorations, teachers can empower students to become environmentally literate citizens.
Read the whole paper here: https://ipir.ipisr.org.rs/handle/123456789/1190
