Università Roma Tre

The course of Natural and Environmental Science Education is aimed at offering insightful and operational didactic tools to bring children closer to the knowledge of the natural world and scientific thought. In this regard, the course has the following educational objectives:
- present some basic knowledge elements on earth sciences and biogeochemical cycles, offering insights into the scientific research methodology.
- present some basic knowledge elements on ecology and nature conservation, offering insights into the scientific research methodology.
- present and discuss the aims and contents of science teaching in the early stages of education, the stages, the guiding ideas and the teaching methods from kindergarten to primary school.
- promote an understanding of the social, technological, economic, and cultural implications of scientific research on the environment.

By studying Natural and Environmental Science Education, the student will achieve the following learning objectives.
As regards knowledge and understanding:
-knowledge on the inter-relationships among organisms and with the physical environment, the effects of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystems and the prospects for nature conservation.
- awareness on scientific research and ongoing international debates on the preservation and sustainable management of natural resources.
-knowledge on research on and focuses of natural science education during childhood.
As regards applying knowledge and understanding:
- ability to illustrate and uphold basic elements of earth sciences and ecology, in the prospect of teaching in kindergarten and primary school.
- ability to develop and implement educational and didactic projects on natural and environmental sciences in the classroom, preparing the necessary materials, planning, and carrying out didactic experiments.
- ability to involve the students, through educational tools, while respecting the environment and other living beings and to promote responsible behaviors in terms of sustainability.
As regards independent thinking:
- awareness on the methodological aspects of current research on natural and environmental sciences and of their advancements
-awareness on the professional responsibility of the teacher in compulsory school in terms of environmental ethics.
As regards communication skills:
-ability to communicate contents related to natural and environmental processes through a technical-scientific language, calibrated with the contextual school level.
- ability to set up teaching methodologies for group work, storytelling, class discussion aimed at understanding the natural processes and phenomena and related scientific knowledge.
As regards learning skills:
- openness to discussions and willingness to always improve their own skills and knowledge about nature and the environment and Natural and Environmental Science Education using the available recent literature on the topics.
- aptitude towards transmitting the acquired knowledge about natural and environmental topics in a comprehensible way, through continuous updates about issues related to natural processes and environmental conservation.