Journal #1

I am looking forward to Natural Resources 370 this semester, as I am looking to improve my environmental literacy as I become an elementary level teacher. I want to be able to encourage my students to take pride in their environment and make safe and healthy decisions. Recently, I took an in-class survey to assess my content knowledge about the environment. Participating in this made me realize that there are so many details about the environment that I would like to dig deeper into this semester. As this semester progresses, it is a priority of mine to improve my environmental literacy, to benefit myself and my future students.

While taking this environmental survey, I realized that I have the basic knowledge when it comes to saving energy, and keeping the earth clean and green. Concepts such as recycling plastic bottles, unplugging unused appliances, etc. I practice on a daily basis. However, when it came to the more specific concepts of the environment, I felt I was a little uneducated. In a recent class lecture, one of our PowerPoint slides indicated that 80% of Americans are heavily influenced by incorrect or outdated environmental myths. At the current time, I feel I would fall into this category. A goal of mine this semester is to pay greater attention to detail when participating in activities in this course, and whenever I am out in nature.

I anticipate a significant difference in the results of my survey when it is conducted at the end of the semester. To this point in my academic career, I really have not taken any classes involving natural resources or the environment. As a future educator of young children, it is very important to me that I am able to educate them on the world around them, and the impact they can have on it. Many people have the attitude that says "I'm just one person.. what can I do to improve the environment?" I think teachers and students alike should work together to change this attitude. I am very interested in what my feeling will be when taking this environmental survey at the end of the semester.