British Columbia

www.walkingthetalk.bc.ca

Vision

To create a vibrant and active education network across British Columbia working towards a culture of sustainability.

Goals

To foster and promote education in British Columbia that leads to sustainable communities now and in the future
To create leadership and support for the identification and implementation of sustainability education initiatives across the province
To develop and recommend action plans for the implementation of sustainability education policy, curriculum, and learning resources in formal and non-formal education

Objectives

To provide a forum for sustainability education stakeholders to meet, exchange, and collaborate through:
- Quarterly Working Group meetings
- Bi-annual provincial sustainability education dialogue
- Maintaining and updating the walkingthetalk website
To promote the integration of sustainability education into the formal and non-formal education sectors
To report on the implementation of sustainability education activities (research, policies, curriculum, learning resources, teacher training, facilities management, etc.) in support of the UN Decade for Education for Sustainable Development.
To report on international indicators (to be guided by Learning for a Sustainable Future and the Canadian National Expert Council).

Sector teams

Sector teams are working under the supervision and guidance of the working group on three specific areas of sustainability education:

K-12 Education
Higher Education
Non-Formal Education

BC Network on Sustainability Education

The BC Network on Sustainability Education is a network of professionals throughout BC with an interest in sustainability education, communicating through the web space at www.walkingthetalk.bc.ca. Walkingthetalk is an on-line gathering place that allows individuals and organizations from all over the province to meet and participate in the BC Sustainability Education Network. Members can put forward issues and themes to be discussed on-line and/or (when possible) face-to-face. Walkingthetalk provides a space for individuals to post web resources, curriculum documents and find people around the province who are interested in sustainability education. The site allows registered users to blog and post ideas too!

Initiatives

Higher Education Sector Team

Contribution to Campus 2020 (November 2006)

An oral presentation and written submission were made to Geoff Plant, the Province of BC’s Campus 2020 Special Advisor, to ensure sustainability is highlighted in the final report. Future related presentations may also be made to the association of BC University Presidents, the University Colleges Association, and the Association of BC Colleges.

Taking Stock Document

This report reviews what is happening on college and university campuses across BC in terms of sustainability. Taking Stock can be used as a learning tool to understand the current level of commitment to sustainability from which recommendations for improvement can be made.

Highlights include:

Specific initiatives taken in terms of policy, campus operations and academic programming
Barriers inhibiting the progress of sustainability
Recommendations for action distilled from analysis of students priorities
Quantitative data on programs and policies at the institutional level

Walkingthetalk Scholarships

Through funding from the Ministry of Advanced Education, two one-year scholarships are offered to Master’s or PhD students working on a topic related to sustainability education.

K-12 Sector Team - Conceptualizing Environmental Learning Draft Document

Conceptualizing Environmental Learning: Interdisciplinary Guide for Teachers

This document, developed by the BC Ministry of Environment, is intended to assist teachers of all subjects and grades to integrate environmental concepts into teaching and learning. BC Hydro has provided funding to create curriculum mapping to assist in the integration of this information into classrooms. The document will be available on the Walkingthetalk website shortly.

Non-Formal Sector Team

Through the use of networking events and discussion forums, this group contributes experience from the non-educational sectors in order assist one another. Representatives from business, NGOs, faith groups, media, youth, First Nations, local government etc. participate. Opportunities for collaboration will be identified through the creation of this network.

In 2008, the focus of the Non-formal Sector Team is on gathering members of immigrant and ethnic communities in the Metro Vancouver region to share sustainability education projects, directions, and ideas with the goals of:

Providing a forum where those who have been involved in sustainability education within ethnic and immigrant communities can share their experiences.
Holding a discussion to identify the potential for sharing and possible collaboration on sustainability education projects.
Working with community members to identify the gaps, needs, and successes of sustainability education within local ethnic and immigrant communities.

Work Plan 2008 Highlights:

Curriculum Mapping project
NGO engagement event on sustainability and immigrant communities
International Indicator report

Sitemap