Definitions of Terms

Environmental Education

In 1970, an IUCN/UNESCO meeting on “Environmental Education in the School Curriculum” defined environmental education as the process of recognizing values and clarifying concepts in order to develop skills and attitudes necessary to understand and appreciate the interrelatedness among man, his culture and his biophysical surroundings. (IUCN 1970)

Environmental Art

According to Bower (2010), executive director of greenmuseum.org, environmental art is an umbrella term to encompass the most common terms, “ecological art” (short for eco-art), “land art”, “earth art”, "earth art", "earthworks", "art in nature" (para. 3). The word “ecological” is more specific to ecosystems and biological cycles, while “environmental” is more general which could include recycled paper and energy policy (A profusion of terms, greenmuseum.org, para. 7).

Ecological art

According to Bower (2010), executive director of greenmuseum.org, ecological art or “eco-art” is a contemporary art movement that addresses environmental issues and often involves collaboration, restoration and eco-friendly methodology (A profusion of terms, greenmuseum.org, para. 8).

Environmental Art Education

Hilary Inwood (2010), a university based art educator, defines Environmental Art Education (or eco-art education) as education integrating “art education with environmental education as a means of developing awareness of and engagement with concepts such as interdependence, biodiversity, conservation, restoration, and sustainability” (para. 4).

Sustainability

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.), sustainability is “Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social economic and other requirements of present and future generations” (What is Sustainability?, para. 1).

Ecological Stewardship

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (n.d.), Environmental Stewardship is the responsibility for environmental quality shared by all those whose actions affect the environment (Environmental Stewardship, para. 1).

Place Based Education

According to Graham (2007 p. 377), Place Based Education draws on progressive traditions of multi-disciplinary, authentic learning that seek to extend learning beyond the walls of the school, strengthening their connection to others, to their region, and to the land.

References:

Greenmuseum.org (2010). A profusion of terms.  Retrieved from http://greenmuseum.org/generic_content.php?ct_id=306

Inwood, H. (2010). Shades of green: Growing environmentalism through art education. Art Education, 63(6), 33-38. Retrieved from https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,uid&db=eft&AN=505368506&site=ehost-live 

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Sustainability.  Retrieved from http://epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm

United States Environmental Protection Agency.(n.d.). Environmental stewardship. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/stewardship/