tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087997614866569468.post5720103303042937056..comments2023-11-14T08:27:12.028+00:00Comments on Wilde About Birds: Environmental CurriculumFindlay Wildehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12697309393957070336noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087997614866569468.post-43894370828549269102017-01-24T18:31:46.446+00:002017-01-24T18:31:46.446+00:00Hi Findlay. I organise talks at Bangor Birdgroup a...Hi Findlay. I organise talks at Bangor Birdgroup at Bangor Uni, North Wales. I was wondering do you give talks to birdgroups regarding the young birders view on the natural world or the like? Many thanks, Steve CulleyStephen Culleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13390868365254491000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087997614866569468.post-35620337054651217742017-01-12T10:58:06.936+00:002017-01-12T10:58:06.936+00:00I put this comment on Mark Avery's blog too
I...I put this comment on Mark Avery's blog too<br /><br />I do a picture quiz for school groups from Yr3 to A-level to name the Top 10 most common British birds. Very few get more than four right, the most often correct answers are robin and pheasant. The teachers are in the same league as the pupils. The general lack of knowledge about what is outside the front door is very worrying.<br />The upshot of the quiz is to encourage the schools to go out and find out what's living close by and let me know, send pictures, get feedback, engage with their local wildlife, report their findings on local websites/school blogs...the more they learn the more they know they don't know and want to find out even more. <br />Ideally by the end of Yr 6 all children should be able to a basic version of a Phase 1 habitat survey around their local area and identify a good number of common and 'speciality' species local to their area to include a wide variety of plants, invertebrates and vertebrates and know something of the interactions between them.<br />In secondary schools this basic ecology and taxonomy should be studied in more detail and over larger geographic areas to cover local, regional, national, continental and international areas as many species cross international boundaries either in their static range or on migration.<br />The scope of a GSCE syllabus all the way to A level is almost endless but definitely needed so that even those that don't take it as one of their exam subject options in Yr 10 have a good grounding in natural history and ecology. This would mean that everyone from plumbers, mechanics, nurses, planners, developers, farmers, etc etc would have at least a little more than basic knowledge of the world around them and hopefully some of the ecocide we currently see could be avoided<br /><br />What do you think Finn<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />DaveyManLancashire and Lakeland Outback Adventure Wildlife Safarishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14531370350323901851noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1087997614866569468.post-20189451687749841202017-01-11T21:42:29.254+00:002017-01-11T21:42:29.254+00:00I think you're on the right track with this on...I think you're on the right track with this one, Findlay, although I'm not sure in my own mind as to what the solution is, but I suspect that the cause might not be best served by a 'voluntary' GCSE subject. I find myself leaning towards a goverment directive that ecological awareness should be built into the curricula of all educational establishments, from Primary Schools, through Secondary Schools, and right up to Univerity level. With primary schools, 'Nature' is an essential subject, and helps instill the values of common decency as knock-on effect. In secondary schools, it is the science-based subjects which should include a good measure of ecological awareness. When it gets to higher education, it's subjects like engineering and manufacturing which need a strong element of ecological responsibility built into the curriculum. I'm totally out of touch with eductation these days, so maybe this is already happening, but if not, I think it should be.<br /><br />Keep up the good work. This world needs people like you.Richard Peglerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05115206853645323899noreply@blogger.com