About
The H.O.P.E.F.U.L CURRICULUM is a research-based pedagogical framework, which identifies 7 key components of environmental hope. All of the components of the framework are interwoven, encouraging a holistic pedagogical approach. The framework was created out of the research and results from my doctoral dissertation in practice. The research study examined the challenges of hope and hopelessness in K-12 Ontario environmental education classrooms. The qualitative study interviewed a small sample of Ontario K-12 environmental educators who shared their incredible stories of experiencing hope and hopelessness in climate change education. The framework is a consolidation of the results of this study in combination with relevant literature reviewed on the topic of hope and hopelessness in social-environmental education. The H.O.P.E.F.U.L. curriculum is a proposed pilot project. The framework is intended as a simple yet effective pedagogical tool for environmental educators and cross-curricular teachers. The hope is that by building awareness, understanding and application of this framework, educators can shift their pedagogical approach to one that approaches environmental learning through a critically hopeful and empowered lens.
The Collaborative Environmental Hope Program (CEHP) is also a proposed pilot program that brings environmental educators together through co-teaching seasonal outdoor experiential lessons. One of the key findings of the study was that environmental educators feel isolated and would like more opportunities for connection, collaboration and community building. The CEHP seeks to address this need. As an Ontario public school teacher myself, my aim in conducting this research was to contribute to infusing more hope and community in climate change education, so that environmental educators and young people alike, can be feel more empowered and supported in creating the change they wish to see.
With love, hope and gratitude,
Akila
