{"id":49987,"date":"2019-11-01T13:04:27","date_gmt":"2019-11-01T20:04:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/world.edu\/?p=49987"},"modified":"2019-11-01T13:04:27","modified_gmt":"2019-11-01T20:04:27","slug":"involving-kids-in-making-schools-sustainable-spreads-the-message-beyond-the-classroom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/world.edu\/involving-kids-in-making-schools-sustainable-spreads-the-message-beyond-the-classroom\/","title":{"rendered":"Involving kids in making schools sustainable spreads the message beyond the classroom"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nThe recent student-led climate protests reflect the need for schools to provide opportunities to nurture their students\u2019 global, environmentally conscious minds. Modern education isn\u2019t only about teaching kids the traditional concepts of say, English and Mathematics \u2013 it is also about\u00a0helping to develop confident adults<\/a>\u00a0and informed citizens.<\/p>\n

The curriculum goes some way to doing this. The\u00a0NSW geography curriculum<\/a>\u00a0for years 11 and 12, for instance, suggests kids learn about responsible values and attitudes towards sustainability. But it doesn\u2019t specify how these attitudes and values should be taught, leaving it up to the schools and teachers to design the methods.<\/p>\n

Research shows<\/a>\u00a0kids are more engaged when they\u2019re actively involved in their learning, rather than learning passively through listening or reading.<\/p>\n

Schools can engage students in being environmentally conscious by taking steps to become more sustainable themselves.<\/p>\n

Our faculty helps high schools develop initiatives to meet the\u00a0Sustainable Development Goals<\/a>. We recently spoke to principals of three schools in our region to see how they\u2019re teaching their students sustainability while taking steps themselves to lower their energy generation, decrease waste and increase their recycling.<\/p>\n

Students saving energy<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Most schools in our region (the Illawara) have solar panels. In fact,\u00a0more than 1,400 schools across NSW have had solar panels installed since 2010<\/a>\u00a0to generate at least some of their electricity. Under a project that ended in 2013,\u00a0around 60% of Australian schools<\/a>\u00a0had solar panels installed.<\/p>\n

Dapto High School\u2019s agriculture, science and maths classrooms were one of the first in Australia to pilot the\u00a0Hivve sustainability classroom<\/a>. This is an initiative by the Australian government and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency and has\u00a0been used by schools<\/a>\u00a0in NSW, QLD and the NT.<\/p>\n

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Hivve’s latest innovation: smart renewable power for a whole school campus. We’re delighted to have worked with @amity_college on this exciting Australian first.https:\/\/t.co\/H2drA8OC4s<\/a> #renewableenergy<\/a>#Solarpower<\/a> #cleantech<\/a> #cleanenergy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/54v0NzAgOV<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Hivve Sustainable Schools (@the_HIVVE) September 1, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n