Environmental literacy may be a new term for some educators, but it's far more than just another educational buzzword. It's a critical skill set that's rapidly gaining recognition across the nation, with nearly all 50 states having adopted some form of environmental literacy learning standards. Here at CodeJoy, we think this shift is not just timely—it's essential.
As educators, we stand at the forefront of a crucial mission: translating the complex, often daunting realities of the world into digestible, 45-minute learning experiences. Our role is pivotal. We're not just teaching facts; we're nurturing the next generation of problem-solvers, turning potentially overwhelming global issues into bite-sized, actionable knowledge.
The beauty of teaching lies in its potential. Through carefully crafted lessons, we have the power to transform students into agents of change and active members of thriving communities. The act of learning is about more than just “awareness” or “exposure”—it's about empowerment through experience. By bringing real-world environmental challenges into the classroom, we can equip our students with the tools they need to shape a sustainable future.
PA STEELS: One State’s Take on E Lit
While at least 46 states are at some point in the process of adopting state environmental literacy (E Lit) education standards, our home state of Pennsylvania served as a catalyst for CodeJoy’s first foray into curriculum development. PA's new Science, Technology, Engineering, Environmental Literacy and Sustainability (STEELS) standards provide a state-wide framework for fostering environmental literacy across all grade levels and subjects. Spring 2025 will be the first year PA students will be tested on these new STEELS standards, and many PA educators are scrambling. Many teachers didn’t learn E Lit in school themselves, and they need help navigating this new topic. Maybe you do too! So…
Let’s Talk About Environmental Literacy
Environmental literacy is big. It’s bigger than food webs and ecosystems. It’s bigger even than just science. Environmental literacy is a cross-curricular blend of knowledge, skills, and even dispositions that prepare a person to live as an interconnected member of the world. As defined by the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE), an environmentally literate person can:
- Understand environmental issues and their connections to human actions.
- Think critically about solutions and make informed decisions.
- Take responsible actions to promote environmental stewardship.
We here at CodeJoy have chosen to take a cross-curricular approach to environmental literacy, merging it with physical computing through a new curriculum we’ve developed called “Micro:bit in the Wild.”
“Micro:bit in the Wild”
In summer 2024, CodeJoy wrote a curriculum called “Micro:bit in the Wild” and piloted it with 200 educators across the US. This program is designed to de-silo education, demonstrating to educators through hands-on learning how to meaningfully blend tech and E Lit across the curriculum. Activities in the program are inspired by naturalists, explorers, and science communicators, emphasizing women and people of color and their contributions to our collective understanding of the world. Fueled by this inspiration, learners code the BBC micro:bit to explore and interact with their environment.
Picture this: Teachers merge core class content and environmental topics through the use of a physical computing tool.
History students code step counters, retracing John Muir's epic journeys across the US, bringing environmental history to life. (John Muir Picture)- In English, students code a digital dice to generate random imagery for Wordsworth-inspired nature poems.
- In math class, students analyze environmental data they collected themselves to investigate urban heat island effects.
- All of these projects use micro:bits.
CodeJoy’s first curriculum does learning differently by encouraging learners to go outside to play while they learn. Our approach is to push E Lit beyond the doorways of science classrooms, challenging the notion that only scientists can effect change. Our goal is to transform participants into engaged natives of their environment. As Robin Wall Kimmerer eloquently states in Braiding Sweetgrass, "To be native to a place we must learn to speak its language." Our approach empowers educators and learners to do just that—fostering a deep connection with their surroundings and cultivating a generation of informed, passionate environmental stewards.
Get Involved
Are you interested in learning more about how to integrate environmental literacy and coding into your curriculum? Contact us to explore the "Micro:bit in the Wild" program and see how CodeJoy can help you empower your students to become changemakers! If you are inspired to bring computer science outdoors with your students, be sure to share with us on social media @CodeJoyEdu on most social platforms.
Additional Resources:
- NAAEE Environmental Literacy Framework: https://naaee.org/about/ee/environmental-literacy-framework
- PA STEELS Standards: https://www.education.pa.gov/Teachers%20-%20Administrators/Curriculum/Science/Pages/Science-Standards.aspx
- CodeJoy - Micro:bit in the Wild: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uZ4PQQ2KFoQlDzIDnrQI2FBojjlJDFmy/view?usp=drive_link