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Can!This!Building!Teach!! About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! August!2015!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 1!
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Introduction* There!are!times!when!local!education!agencies!(LEAs)!go!to! their!governing!bodies!for!funding!for!school!designs!that! include!construction!of!a!green!school—a!school!that! supports!sustainable!practices!or!has!environmentally! friendly!facilities.!!While!this!type!of!construction!can!be! supported!in!the!research!for!reasons!that!include!health,! safety,!and!planet!friendly!practice,!there!often!is!little!said! about!the!instructional!components!of!such!facilities.!!This! paper!will!explain!how!the!components!of!green!schools!can! enhance!the!implementation!of!environmental!education! curricula!that!help!support!21st!century!skills.!!Currently,! there!is!no!set!standard!for!the!implementation!of! environmental!education!in!green!schools!or!for!schools! that!utilize!the!building!as!a!teaching!tool!for!students.!A! recent!study!(Marable,!2015)!was!conducted!in!Virginia!to!help!establish!pedagogical!best!practices!for! environmental!education,!while!describing!how!educators!currently!use!LEED!buildings!as!a!teaching!tool!to! support!sustainable!practices.!The!findings!from!the!study!indicated!teachers!employ!practices!that!are! consistent!with!current!emphases!on!environmental!education.!!Data!also!supported!that!educators!take!pride! in!their!buildings!and!incorporate!the!facility!as!a!teaching!tool!in!a!variety!of!instructional!practices! throughout!the!Commonwealth!of!Virginia.! The!findings!of!this!recent!study!and!other!relevant!research!explain!and!provide!real!examples!of!current! environmental!education!practices!being!utilized!to!support!21st!century!skills!within!LEED!certified!schools.!! Examples!of!how!the!facility!may!be!used!as!a!teaching!tool!in!environmental!education!are!provided!by! school!grade!levels!(elementary!and!secondary)!and!by!building!features!in!LEED!construction.
Definitions*of*Key*Terms* Several!key!terms!are!used!throughout!this!paper!and!are!defined!here:! •! Environmental,Education!is!a!curriculum!that!explores!the!relationship!between!human!ecology,! natural!ecology,!and!the!school!building!(USGBC,!2012a).!! •! Green,Schools,are,school!buildings!that!incorporate!design!features!and!building! technology/material!to!provide!a!healthy!indoor!environment,!conserve!energy,!and!educate!and! teach!environmental!sustainability!(Kats,!2006).!!Both!sustainable!schools!and!high!performance! schools!are!synonymous!with!the!term!green!schools.!USED!Green!Ribbon!and!LEED!schools!are! considered!to!be!green!schools.!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 2!
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•! Leadership,in,Energy,and,Environmental,Design,(LEED)!is!a!rating!system!that!awards!certification! to!buildings!that!meet!standards!defined!by!the!U.S.!Green!Building!Council.!!This!third!party! verification!process!rates!buildings!as!“certified,”!“silver,”!“gold,”!or!“platinum,”!depending!on!the! number!of!credits!received.!Certification!provides!verification!that!a!building!was!designed!and! built!using!strategies!aimed!at!achieving!high!performance!in!key!areas!(USGBC,!2012b).!, •! School,as,A,Teaching,Tool,is,a!curriculum!based!on!the!high]performance!features!of!the!green! school!building!(USGBC,!2012a)., •! STEM,refers!to!the!Science,!Technology,!Engineering,!and!Math,learning!areas,!which!often!use!a! problem]based!approach!to!learning.! •! Sustainability*creates!and!maintains!the!conditions!under!which!humans!and!nature!can!exist!in! productive!harmony,!that!permit!fulfilling!the!social,!economic,!and!other!requirements!of!present! and!future!generations!(EPA,!2014,!np).* •! ED,Green,Ribbon,Schools!is!a!recognition!award!that!honors!“schools!and!districts!that!are! exemplary!in!reducing!environmental!impact!and!costs;!improving!the!health!and!wellness!of! students!and!staff;!and!providing!effective!environmental!and!sustainability!education,!which! incorporates!STEM,!civic!skills!and!green!career!pathways”!(USED,!2013,!np).! •! 21st,Century,Skills,D!There!are!four!themes!within!the!21st!century!framework,!which!include:!!21st! century!interdisciplinary!themes;!learning!and!innovation!skills;!information,!media,!and!technology! skills;!and,!life!and!career!skills!(P21,!2014,!np).!!Within!each!theme!there!are!subcategories,!which! are!included!in!table!1!below:!! !!! Table*1** 21st%Century%Skills, 21st!century!interdisciplinary! global!awareness,!financial!literacy,!civic!literacy,!health!literacy,!and! themes! environmental!literacy! Learning!and!Innovation!skills!! creativity!and!innovation,!critical!thinking!and!problem!solving,!and! communication!and!collaboration! Information,!Media!and! information!literacy,!media!literacy,!and!information,!communications,! Technology!Skills!! and!technology!literacy! Life!and!Career!Skills!! flexibility!and!adaptability,!initiative!and!self]direction,!social!and!cross] cultural!skills,!productivity!and!accountability,!and!leadership!and! responsibility!! !
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
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Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 3!
LEED*Schools*and*Environmental*Education* Environmental!literacy!is!included!as!an!interdisciplinary!theme!in!the!21st!century!learning!framework.!!The! development!of!sustainable!or!green!schools!has!grown!in!interest!over!the!past!decade.!!Much!of!the!growing! trend!in!research,!however,!has!emphasized!the!building!components!and!energy!conservation!aspects!of! green!schools,!rather!than!how!the!building!features!are!utilized!to!educate!students!about!sustainability! (Chan,!2013;!Cole,!2013).!! ! In!order!to!be!recognized!as!a!green!school!and!maintain!that!status!under!the!USGBC’s!LEED!system,!the! building!must!be!used!as!a!teaching!tool!for!students!to!learn!about!sustainability,!and!the!school!must! incorporate!an!environmental!(or!sustainable)!education!curriculum!that!infuses!sustainable!practices!and! education!throughout!the!curricula!taught!in!the!school.!!! ! Leadership!in!Energy!and!Environmental!Design!(LEED)!2009!for!Schools!New!Construction!and!Major! Renovations!defines!the!school!as!a!teaching!tool!when!it!implements!a!curriculum!based!on!the!green! performance!features!of!the!building!within!10!months!of!the!LEED!certification.!!The!curriculum!must!meet! state!requirements!and!go!beyond!a!mere!description!of!the!building!features;!the!curriculum!should!“explore! the!relationship!between!human!ecology,!natural!ecology!and!the!building”!(USGBC,!2012,!np).!There!is!no!set! standard,!however,!with!regard!to!environmental!education!curriculum!in!the!rubrics!of!the!US!Green!Building! Council.!! ! Due!to!the!wide!array!of!building!features!that!exist!among!LEED]certified!buildings,!it!is!difficult!for!one!to! develop!a!concrete!list!of!specific!building!features!that!align!with!specific!curricular!goals.!!Instead,!facility! features!that!commonly!accompany!many!LEED!schools!are!aligned!with!sustainable!environmental!practices! emphasized!across!the!curricula.!!Some!examples!include:!increased!daylighting,!automated!systems!for! lighting!and!water!to!reduce!energy!usage,!alternative!forms!of!energy,!water!reduction!and!rain!collection,! retention!ponds!and!control!for!storm!runoff,!use!of!sustainable!building!materials!and!furniture,!green! (vegetative)!roofs!and!white!roofs,!data!monitoring!kiosks,!educational!signage,!learning!gardens,!designated! areas!for!alternative!transportation!(carpool,!energy!efficient!cars,!and!bicycles),!etc.!
Green*Schools*as*Teaching*Tools* LEED]certified!schools!offer!school!leaders!a!unique!opportunity!to!employ!the!building!and!grounds!as! teaching!tools.!!Examples!from!five!school!districts!across!the!country!are!presented!here.! ! In!Virginia!Beach,!where!a!new!magnet!school!is!being!planned,!provides!an!example!of!using!new! construction!of!a!LEED!facility!as!a!teaching!tool—even!in!the!planning,!design,!and!constructions!phases.!! Students!and!staff!are!involved!in!the!planning!process!for!a!LEED!facility,!which!they!will!occupy!during!the!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
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Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 4!
2016]2017!school!year.!!Both!the!architect!and!sustainability!coordinator!actively!ensure!students!understand! how!proposed!building!features!work!and!why!specific!features!are!selected!from!both!environmental! sustainability!and!economic!standpoints.!!The!principal!and!teachers!work!to!create!short!videos!of!many!of! the!lessons!from!the!construction!phase!to!ensure!future!students!can!benefit!too.!!For!example,!when! learning!about!the!HVAC!system,!a!video!was!made!of!a!Skype!conversation!a!class!had!with!the!sustainability! coordinator!on!the!construction!site!while!geothermal!wells!were!drilled.!!Core!samples!from!the!wells!also! were!preserved!for!students!to!inspect!in!Earth!Science!classes.!This!particular!lesson!expands!across!all!of!the! 21st!century!themes,!while!utilizing!technology!innovation!to!place!the!classroom!on!the!construction!site!with! experts!available!to!lead!discussion.!!! ! At!the!elementary!school!level,!3rd!grade!in!particular,!students!learn!how!living!and!earth!systems!work! together!and!this!theme!becomes!the!'Big!Idea'!for!the!students!throughout!the!school!year.!!For!example,!the! students!learn!about!specific!LEED!building!features!and!practices!that!help!reduce!storm!water!runoff!such!as! a!green!roof,!rain!gardens,!rain!collection!to!reuse!rainwater,!and!permeable!pavers!near!storm!drains.!! ! In!the!middle!school,!students!work!on!capstone!projects!related!to!sustainability.!!One!student!wrote!a!grant! proposal,!which!earned!her!school!$2000!to!build!a!learning!garden!to!grow!whole!foods!for!students!and! allow!elementary!students!to!learn!about!plants!and!their!health!benefits.! ! In!another!example,!an!elementary!school!in!Washington,!D.C.,!that!was!recently!modernized!and!expanded! with!a!LEED!Gold!certification,!noted,!“…the!most!powerful!argument!for!developing!the!sustainable!design! features!of!the!campus!was!to!allow!the!students!to!really!engage!sustainability!hands]on!learning!from!their! new!environments!and!interacting!with!the!people!who!helped!to!design!and!build!it.”!(O’Donnell,!Cuthbert,! Cronin,!&!Urbieta,!2011,!p.!4).!!This!school!used!teams!to!develop!a!curriculum!that!integrated!architecture,! engineering,!and!landscape,!while!working!to!conserve!resources!and!enhance!the!learning!environment.!The! school!also!supports!the!development!of!student!leadership!as!5th!grade!students!act!as!ambassadors!of! sustainable!design!by!providing!guided!tours!of!the!facility!and!emphasizing!the!sustainable!aspects!of!the! building!(O’Donnell!et!al.,!2011).! ! In!an!example!from!the!West!Coast,!a!LEED]certified!secondary!alterative!school!in!Seattle,!Washington,! “serves!as!a!teaching!tool!about!environmental!responsibility!for!students,!faculty,!and!the!community!at! large]]providing!an!integrated,!project]based!learning!environment!in!which!staff!will!be!working!as!a!team!to! identify!each!student’s!unique!needs,!empowering!students!to!grow!and!mature”!(Shiver!and!Dale,!2011,!p.! 11).!!While!specific!examples!were!not!noted!in!the!article,!building!operations!were!incorporated!into! instruction.!!It!was!mentioned!that!the!curriculum!and/or!student]led!studies!were!designed!to!address! seasonal!impacts!of!water!usage!by!monitoring!building!water!usage!and!comparing!data!to!other!schools! within!the!district!(Shiver!&!Dale,!2011).!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
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Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 5!
Using*Green*School*Features*Across*the*KA12*Curricula*in*the*Commonwealth*of*Virginia* Schools!across!the!Commonwealth!of!Virginia!are!employing!the!facility!and!grounds!as!teaching!tools!and! incorporating!them!as!part!of!the!curricula!(Marable,!2015).!!Examples!are!provided!by!grade!level.!
* Elementary*Schools* Students!are!taught!about!natural!resources!and!conservation!throughout!the!elementary!curriculum.!!This! allows!for!many!building!features!that!are!aimed!at!reducing!energy,!water,!and!waste!to!be!connected!to!the! curriculum.!!LEED]certified!schools!are!required!to!utilize!a!recycling!program,!and!this!also!can!be! incorporated!into!school]wide,!grade!level,!or!club!programs!that!not!only!enhance!sustainable!practices,!but! also!improve!the!school!culture!while!teaching!about!civic!responsibility,!global!awareness,!and!environmental! literacy.! ! The!science!curricula!also!can!be!utilized!as!an!overarching!theme!across!subjects,!such!as!math!and!English.!! For!example,!living!systems,!earth!systems,!and!resources!are!taught!across!many!elementary!grade!levels.!! Teachers!can!utilize!many!systems!of!the!building!to!show!how!water!and!energy!usage!are!reduced!and!how! rainwater!collection!helps!to!conserve!water.!! ! The!exterior!space!of!the!school!grounds!can!be!utilized!in!the!development!of!outdoor!learning!gardens.!The! use!of!interior!and!exterior!gardens!allows!students!the!opportunity!for!hands]on!learning!in!several! applications.!To!help!support!a!healthy!school!culture,!students!can!plant!and!cultivate!edible!gardens!so!they! can!learn!about!and!experience!health!and!nutrition.!Indigenous!plants!also!can!be!planted!as!students!learn! about!their!local!habitats!to!compare!and/or!choose!vegetation!that!is!best!suited!for!a!green!roof.!!! ! Many!of!the!LEED!schools!in!Virginia!incorporate!a!recycling!program.!!Recycling!programs!may!be!utilized! school!wide!in!a!variety!of!ways.!!For!example,!one!school!recycles!materials!by!grade!level!to!compare!the! management!and!usage!of!resources!by!grade!level.!Another!school!utilizes!various!recycled!materials!to! create!and!make!items!for!specific!project]based!learning!assignments.!!Lastly,!as!students!learn!about!the! water!cycle,!they!can!apply!what!they!have!learned!to!specific!features!of!the!building!that!are!designed!to! reduce!water!usage!and!storm!runoff!(such!as!rain!collection,!green!roof,!and!permeable!pavers)!or!that! incorporate!the!runoff!into!the!natural!water!cycle!(such!as!rain!gardens!and!green!roofs).!!Refer!to!Table!2!for! a!list!of!environmental!practices!that!incorporate!specific!building!features!as!teaching!tools,!while!supporting! 21st!century!skills!in!elementary!schools.!!
Secondary*Schools* While!some!of!the!main!topics!with!regard!to!building!features!may!be!similar!to!that!of!elementary!schools,! the!curricula!in!secondary!schools!allow!for!more!in]depth!exploration!and!analysis!to!help!students!develop!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
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Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 6!
life!and!career!skills!needed!for!the!21st!century.!!For!example,!capitalizing!on!recycling!programs!utilized!in! secondary!school!facilities,!teachers!can!expand!student!learning!by!having!them!collect!and!analyze!a!variety! data!about!what!materials!are!being!recycled,!how!much!is!being!recycled,!and!the!cost!benefits!of!recycling.!! This!approach!can!also!develop!into!problem]based!learning!or!STEM!applications,!in!which!students!can!use! the!data!collected,!propose!more!efficient!ways!to!recycle!materials,!or!conserve!school!resources!to!help! reduce!waste!and!school!spending.!!Many!schools!collected!data!from!recycling!programs!and!monitored!data! collected!on!overall!energy!usage!and!compared!it!to!neighboring!schools.!! ! Schoolteachers!also!can!utilize!informal!curricula!to!teach!about!sustainable!features!of!the!building.!!For! example,!educational!signage!throughout!the!facility!and!student]led!class!announcements!and/or!newscasts! can!drawn!attention!to!sustainable!features!of!the!building!throughout!the!school!year.!!This!allows!for! information!to!be!cast!to!a!larger!audience!and!supports!a!school!wide!culture!of!sustainability.!!! ! Many!LEED]certified!buildings!contain!interactive!monitoring!systems,!which!are!displayed!for!usage!in! common!areas!of!the!building.!!This!encourages!staff,!students,!and!the!community!to!examine!data!about!the! building!performance!with!regard!to!energy!usage,!water!usage,!water!collection,!etc.!!Teachers!can!use!the! data!to!have!students!compare!energy!usage!with!other!schools!that!are!not!LEED]certified!and!further! develop!ideas!that!will!help!further!reduce!energy!and!water!usage.!!Students!utilize!critical!thinking,!problem! solving,!and!collaboration!in!the!learning!process.!!A!STEM!approach!also!can!allow!students!to!analyze!how! specific!building!features!help!to!reduce!energy!and!water!usage!or!assist!in!creating!more!comfortable! learning!spaces!in!terms!of!acoustics!and!the!thermal!environment.!!For!example,!the!orientation!of!the! building!with!respect!to*sunlight!exposure,!increased!use!of!daylighting,!types!of!lighting!and!solar!tubes!for! interior!rooms,!vegetative!and!white!roofs,!and!HVAC!can!affect!one's!level!of!comfort!and!thus!affect!the! ability!to!concentrate!and/or!learn.!Discussion!through!mock!debate!or!Socratic!seminar!can!assist!learning! concerning!how!the!building!can!affect!students!individually!and!their!learning!environment.!!! ! One!school!in!Virginia!created!a!curriculum!around!environmental!studies!and!engineering!that!incorporated! features!of!the!building!that!were!designed!to!reduce!energy!usage.!!As!part!of!the!class,!students! experimented!with!solar!arrays!and!wind!turbines!to!create!designs!that!were!more!efficient.!!They!also! incorporated!sustainable!design!into!an!outdoor!learning!garden!and!a!horticulture!class,!where!they! examined!ways!to!conserve!water!resources!and!reduce!storm!and!water!runoff!on!the!school!grounds.!! (Elsewhere,!learning!gardens!have!blended!easily!with!both!science!and!culinary!arts!courses.)!!As!part!of!this! process,!students!toured!the!building!and!the!grounds!to!evaluate!usage!and!areas!for!improvement.!!! ! There!were!several!other!schools!that!utilized!similar!ideas!such!as!comparing!different!roof!types!(black!roof,! white!roofs,!and!green!roofs)!and!rating!them!based!on!cost!and!savings,!effectiveness,!sustainability,!and! durability.!!Overall,!there!were!many!ways!in!which!schools!incorporated!the!building!as!a!teaching!tool!and!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 7!
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further!enhanced!the!curricula,!both!formally!and!informally,!in!order!to!enhance!deeper!levels!of!learning!for! the!students.!!Refer!to!Table!2!for!a!list!of!environmental!practices!that!incorporate!specific!building!features! as!a!teaching!tool!while!supporting!21st!century!skills!in!secondary!schools.!!
Reflection* Recycling!programs,!learning!gardens,!collection!and!monitoring!of!energy!and!water!usage!data,!and!raising! awareness!of!sustainability!features!of!the!green!school!features!are!frequent!first!steps!in!incorporating!the! building!as!a!teaching!tool!in!environmental!education!that!supports!21st!century!learning.!The!practices!and! strategies!mentioned!are!valuable!additions!to!the!formal!and!informal!curricula!of!a!school.!!They!incorporate! real]world!concepts,!high!engagement,!and!hands]on!activities!that!assist!in!creating!21st!century!learning! opportunities!and!authentic!experiences!for!students.!! ! In!LEED!schools!in!which!the!building!is!used!as!a!teaching!tool,!however,!it!is!important!for!educational! leaders!to!consider!ongoing!staff!development,!so!they!are!aware!of!the!sustainable!features!and!learning! opportunities!that!exist!within!the!building.!!The!value!of!the!school!building!and!grounds!is!enlarged!when! instructional!leaders!can!integrate!facility!features!and!operations!as!teaching!tools!throughout!the!curricula. Table*2* * Environmental%Education%Practices%that%use%the%Building%as%a%Teaching%Tool%by%School%Level% School*Level* Elementary**
Environmental*Education*Practices* Discuss!natural!resources!and! conservation.!Use!examples!of!ways! the!building!design!helps!to!use! fewer!resources.!Discuss!alternative! energy!and!power!sources!such!as! wind!and!solar!power.! !
Use!an!outdoor!garden!space!at!the! school!for!each!grade!level.!Students! use!the!outdoor!space!to!grow!a! choice!salad!food,!to!harvest!and!eat! together!as!a!class!later!in!the!spring! or!to!grow!indigenous!plants.!
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Building*as*a*Teaching*Tool* Use!open!spaces!for!class! discussions!to!show!how!light]! harvesting!tiles;!special!lights;! use!of!windows!for!optimal! light;!plumbing—toilets!that! use!less!water,!waterless! urinals,!motion!sensor! faucets;!rain!collection!and! retention!ponds!conserve! energy!and!natural!resources.! Use!interior!and!exterior! gardens!for!hands]on!learning! and!explain!how!natural! materials!are!used!for! building.!
21st*Century*Skill* Environmental!literacy! ! Civic!literacy! ! Health!literacy! ! Communication!and!collaboration!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Communication!and!collaboration!! ! Initiative!and!self]direction!! ! Social!and!cross]cultural!skills!! ! Productivity!and!accountability!!
DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 8!
! Create!recycling!programs,! environmental!clubs,!and! community!service!projects.!
Create!an!overarching!theme!for! grade!levels!to!teach!how!systems! work.! ! !
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Utilize!science!units!on!the!water! cycle!to!discuss!and!teach!about! conservation.!
Middle!
Integrate!concepts!such!as!zero!net! carbon!and!energy!building!that! actually!produce!energy!through! solar!arrays!and!wind!turbines.!! Students!are!involved!in!an!energy! engineering!class,!which!uses!the! building!as!a!laboratory!for! sustainable!energy.! !
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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Use!recycling!cans!throughout! the!building,!compost!bins,! and!learning!gardens;!create! various!recycling!programs;! and!utilize!informational! signage!throughout!the! building!to!teach!about! sustainability.! Study!and!research!how! various!systems!in!the! building!work:!wind!turbines,! solar!power,!rain!collection,! green!roof,!etc.! !
Discuss!how!solar!panels!and! rainwater!collectors!help! conserve!resources.!Use! plaques!throughout!the! building!that!tell!students! about!the!sustainable!features! of!the!building,!and!small! plaques!at!every!classroom! door!with!names!and!pictures! of!flora!and!fauna!indigenous! to!the!region,!with!QR!codes! that!link!to!websites!about! them.! Use!the!design,!solar! orientation,!daylighting,!solar! hot!water,!and!different!types! of!solar!panels!to! demonstrate!how!things! change.!Discuss!the!low]e! glass,!insulation!principles,! CO2!monitoring,!use!of!local! and!recycled!materials,!water! harvesting,!green!roof!and! surrounding!gardens,!and! wind!generators!and!weather! monitoring.!Information!kiosk! dashboards!help!monitor! energy!usage.! !
Environmental!literacy!! ! Civic!literacy!! !
Civic!literacy! ! Health!literacy!! ! Environmental!literacy!creativity! and!innovation!! ! Flexibility!and!adaptability!! ! Productivity!and!accountability!! Environmental!literacy!! ! Media!literacy!! !
Economic!and!business!literacy!! ! Civic!literacy!! ! Health!literacy!! ! Environmental!literacy!! ! Creativity!and!innovation!! ! Critical!thinking!and!problem! solving!! ! Information!literacy!! ! Media!literacy!! ! Flexibility!and!adaptability!! !
DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 9!
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Productivity!and!accountability!! ! Leadership!and!responsibility! Use!the!science!curriculum!with! several!standards!related!to!the! environment!and!sustainability.!! Have!students!cover!alternative! energy!sources,!point!source!and! non]point!source!pollution,!and! renewable!vs.!nonrenewable! resources.!
Create!recycling!programs,! environmental!clubs,!and! community!service!projects.! !
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Environmental!literacy!! ! Global!awareness!! ! Creativity!and!innovation!! ! Critical!thinking!and!problem! solving!! !
Environmental!literacy!! ! Civic!literacy! !
Utilize!school!announcements.!
Provide!information!about!the! Environmental!literacy!! building!and!its!sustainable! ! features!and!concepts.! Health!literacy! ! Career!skills!
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Use!the!English!research!unit!to! focus!on!students!selecting!an! environmental!issue,!researching!it,! and!presenting!pros!and!cons.!
No!specific!response!included.! Environmental!literacy!! ! !
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In!language!arts,!use!informational! texts!and!fictional!texts!about!the! environment,!pollution,!and!its! effects.!
Use!building!signage!that! explains!the!types!of!recycling! waste.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Civic!and!financial!literacy!
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Discuss!renewable!and! nonrenewable!energy!resources!and! complete!an!in]class!project!about! energy!conservation.!!
Monitor!the!recycling! program!and!discuss!the!use! of!natural!light!throughout! classrooms.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Technology!and!media!literacy!
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EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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Have!students!tour!the!school! and!discuss!the!green! features.!They!then!tour!the! grounds!to!evaluate!the! school!on!weathering!and! pollution!found.!The!school! uses!sustainable!supplies,! showing!students!that!large! buildings!do!not!need!to! devastate!the!land!to! complete!construction.!!The! school!also!uses!less!water! and!electricity!but!is!still!able! to!perform!as!a!normal! school.! Use!recycling!cans!throughout! the!building,!various!recycling! programs,!compost!bins,! learning!gardens,!and! informational!signage! throughout!the!building.!!
DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 10!
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Allow!student!to!enter!a!poster!in! the!James!River!Association's!poster! contest!titled!'What!a!Healthy!River! Means!to!Me.'!
No!specific!response!included! related!to!the!building.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Civic!literacy! ! Global!awareness!
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Educate!students!about!the!cost!of! building!and!operating!solid!waste! facilities!and!the!value!of!recycling! different!products.! !
Monitor!the!weight!of!paper! collected!from!each!source! within!the!school!and!create! displays!of!the!data!using! Excel!spreadsheets,!formulas,! and!graphics.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Financial!literacy! ! Technology!and!media!literacy! ! Career!skills!
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Utilize!the!science!curriculum! concepts!that!discuss!reduction!of! materials,!reuse!of!materials,!and! recycling.! ! ! !
Discuss!signage!that!describes! the!environmental! educational!concepts!of!the! building,!e.g.!the!green!roof.!! Use!the!outdoor!garden!and! compost!bins.!!Discuss!how! the!building!is!designed!to! save!energy.!That!is!a! powerful!teaching!concept!in! itself.!
Environmental!literacy! ! Career!skills! ! Civic!literacy!! !
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Utilize!units!that!include!learning! Discuss!the!green!roof!and! about!renewable!energy!options!and! design!plans!for!energy!and! analyzing!the!viability!for!renewable! water!conservation.!!! energy!in!Virginia.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Critical!thinking!and!problem! solving! ! Civic!literacy!
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Use!data!contacts!and!operators!for! the!air!quality!monitoring!station! and!information!available!for! teachers.!Use!curriculum!links!for! NEED.org!that!are!available!to! teachers.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Technology!and!media!literacy! !
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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Discuss!how!a!Hobo!meter!for! soil!moisture,!air!and! substrate!temperature,!and! relative!humidity!is!used!to! monitor!the!green!roof! system.!Discuss!how!the! school!website!hosts!an! ambient!air!quality!monitoring! station!operated!by!the! Virginia!Department!of! Environmental!Quality.!!
DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 11!
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Use!science!courses!to!teach! sustainability,!model!it,!and!survey! students!and!teach!about!the! footprint.!!Incorporate!stream!study! into!the!curriculum!and!create!a! 'pond!in!the!classroom’!to!teach! concepts!about!ecology.!
Discuss!various!building! materials!throughout!the! school!and!use!signage!to! clarify.! ! !
Environmental!literacy!! ! Communication!and!career!skills! ! !
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Use!the!engineering!class!to! introduce!concepts!from!the! curriculum,!especially!those! concerning!energy!and!clean!water.!
Discuss!the!energy!efficient! building!(new!school).!!Discuss! various!features!such!as!films! on!windows,!the!white!roof,! thermal!glass,!automatic! lights,!and!types!of!lighting.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Information!literacy! ! Career!skills! !
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Discuss!current!topics!in!other! countries,!which!often!deal!with! pollution!and!other!environmental! concerns!(i.e.,!clean!water).!
Discuss!the!water!reduction! features!of!the!building,!such! as!automatic!faucets,!low! flush!toilets,!and!adjustable! lighting.!!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Global!awareness! ! Civic!literacy!
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Utilize!the!course!on!environmental! science.!
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Discuss!and!utilize!the! learning!garden!for!hands]on! activities.! Utilize!units!that!include!learning! Discuss!the!green!roof!and! about!renewable!energy!options!and! design!plans!for!energy!and! analyzing!the!viability!for!renewable! water!conservation.!!! energy!in!Virginia.!
Environmental!literacy!! ! Health!literacy! Environmental!literacy!! ! Critical!thinking!and!problem! solving! ! Civic!literacy!
Note.,!Data!were!gathered!using!an!eSurvey!in!March!2014.!!The!participants!included!teachers!and! principals!currently!working!in!LEED!or!USED!Green!Ribbon!Schools!in!the!Commonwealth!of!Virginia.!!All! data!from!the!survey!instrument!were!submitted!anonymously.!!Descriptive!data!such!as!school,!position,! and!subject!taught!were!collected!in!order!to!describe!the!characteristics!of!the!sample!population!for! this!study.!!Specific!school!data!were!not!disaggregated.!!! ! Common!responses!were!combined!and!some!responses!were!edited!for!readability.!!As!!!a!result,! specific!participants!are!not!identified!in!the!responses.
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
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Can!This!Building!Teach!About!Sustainability!in!the!21st!Century?! 12!
Steve*Marable!is!currently!a!principal!at!Georgie!D.!Tyler!Middle!School!with!Isle!of!Wight!County!Schools!in!the!Tidewater! region!of!Virginia.!!Prior!to!his!role!as!principal,!he!served!as!a!school!administrator!with!Virginia!Beach!City!Public!Schools.!He! was!also!a!secondary!teacher!and!coach!for!Virginia!Beach!City!Public!Schools.! ! In!2014,!Steve!received!the!Outstanding!Dissertation!Award!from!The!International!Society!for!Educational!Planning.!In! addition,!he!presented!the!findings!from!his!study,!'Green!Schools!–!The!implementation!and!practices!of!environmental! education!in!LEED!and!USED!Green!Ribbon!public!schools!in!Virginia'!at!ISEP's!annual!conference!in!Cyprus,!October!2014.!He! has!also!presented!at!various!state!and!national!conferences!on!the!subject!of!green!schools!and!environmental!education.! !
References* Environmental!Protection!Agency.!(2014).!Sustainability.!Retrieved!from! http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm! ! Kats,!G.!(2006).!Greening,of,America's,schools:,costs,and,benefits.!Retrieved!from! http://www.usgbc.org/Docs/Archive/General/Docs2908.pdf.! ! Marable,!S.!(2015).!Green!Schools!–!The!implementation!and!practices!of!environmental!education!in!LEED! and!USED!Green!Ribbon!public!schools!in!Virginia.,The,Journal,for,the,International,Society,for, Educational,Planning,,22(1),!49]65.!! ! O’Donnell,!S.,!Cuthbert,!M.,!Cronin,!A.,!&!Urbieta,!M.!N.!(2011).!An!Elementary!School!with!a!Global! Perspective:!The!Building!as!a!Teaching!Tool.!!Facility,Planner,!45(3),!4.! ! Partnership!for!21st!Century!Skills.!(2014).!Framework,for,21st,century,learning.!Retrieved!from! http://www.p21.org/about]us/p21]framework! ! Shiver,!S.!M.,!&!Dale,!J.!R.!(2011).!Integrating!Sustainability!as!a!Learning!Tool.!Educational,Facility,Planner,! 45(3),!11]13.! ! U.S.!Department!of!Education.!(2013).!U.S.,Department,of,Green,Ribbon,Schools.,!Retrieved!from! http://www2.ed.gov/programs/green]ribbon]schools/index.html.! ! U.S.!Green!Building!Council.!(2012).!Green,Schools,enhance,learning.!Retrieved!from! http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/better]for]learning.aspx! ! U.S.!Green!Building!Council.!(2012).!What,LEED,Measures.,Retrieved!from! , http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1989, !
The*Education*Facilities*Clearinghouse*(EFC)!is!a!program!of!the!George!Washington!University!and!the!Graduate!School!of! Education!and!Human!Development!and!is!fully!funded!by!the!U.!S.!Department!of!Education.!!The!content!of!this!publication!does! not!necessarily!represent!the!views!or!policies!of!the!Department!of!Education.!!
EDUCATION!FACILITIES!CLEARINGHOUSE,!WWW.EFC.GWU.EDU!
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DR.!STEVE!MARABLE!
