Ambiente e Sustentabilidade | Capítulos/artigos em livros internacionais / Book chapters/papers in international books
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- Assessing high school students perceptions and comprehension of climate changePublication . Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Santos, Paulo T.; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Morgado, FernandoThe purpose of this study was to investigate High School (HS) students’ perceptions of Climate Change (CC) and Global warming (GW). This work was conducted within Portuguese High School students and the results in this context should have meaningful implications for national CC policies in the future as well as HS curricula adaptation to the students’ perceptions. Research was conducted at a high school in Central Portugal. The survey was applied to all the high school students from the 10th to the 12th grade, enrolled in the areas of Sciences and Technology, Languages and Humanities, Socio-economical Sciences and Professionalization. The data were collected through a self-completion questionnaire consisting of 29 closed-ended questions and two open questions aiming at characterizing students from the socio-demographic, and from their perceptions, beliefs, motivations, attitudes, knowledge relating to the topic of CC. Google Drive was used to host the questionnaire and allow for the online survey. Statistical exploratory univariate and bivariate analyses were performed on the data collected (frequencies, total and column percentages, adjusted residuals). All statistical tests were two-tailed, with significance levels of 5%. Only statistically significant results were commented on the results section. Majority of students believed that CC was happening and also perceived that human activities were an important cause of CC. Still, the surveyed students hold some misconceptions about basic causes and consequences of climate change. Students’ gender influenced their perceptions of time scale of CC impact on both human and biotic communities. Most students state that their training had focused enough on the topic of CC and felt they had a moderate technical knowledge about the topic of CC (students’ knowledge of how their behaviour influenced CC followed a similar pattern). There was a large conviction that the main actions in mitigating CC effects should be taken by governments and regarding the perception of the importance of CC for their future professional carrier, 48% considered that this topic was “moderately important” and 29% considered it as “very important”. However as individuals, and globally, 74% had not taken actions to mitigate CC (only 26% of the respondents had taken some actions to mitigate the causes of CC). Further research is necessary so that curricula programs can be adequate to promote better knowledge and attitudes about climate change and an active engagement of future participative citizens, as part of the solution for climate change problems.
- Attitudes, barriers and motivators as factors for sustainability of higher education e-Learning programmes at Universidade Aberta, PortugalPublication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Caeiro, Sandra; Martinho, Ana Paula; Azeiteiro, UlissesIn higher education distance learning institutions, where studies are carried on through a variety of distance learning regimes, from the correspondence and earlier forms of distance education to fully online e-learning programmes, and where planners and administrators seize the effective adoption and deployment of technology-enabled education, student attitude and motivation assume considerable significance. Attitudinal pre-dispositions, institutional and allied barriers (including appropriate policy initiatives), besides the scientific and pedagogical quality of degree programmes are assumed to play a crucial role in sustainability of higher education systems. This article reports the findings of a study conducted at Universidade Aberta, Portugal—the Portuguese Distance Learning Education University—to examine student attitudes towards e-learning and to identify barriers and motivators of e-learning adoption, which are key factors for decreasing dropout rates of a 2nd cycle degree e-learning programme, analysed as a case study.
- Biodiversity and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD): tendencies and perspectivesPublication . Leal Filho, Walter; Castro, Paula; Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Azul, Anabela Marisa; Azeiteiro, UlissesThis introductory paper outlines some of the areas where research and action is needed, so as to allow a more systematic development of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in the Biodiversity Conservation context. Apart from presenting the concepts of ecosystem services and biodiversity, this chapter indicates the main initiatives needed to be developed to incorporate ESD in the curricula as a multiple-perspective approach. Additionally, it is discussed how biodiversity conservation through education action fit within the actual premises and programmes of sustainability as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2010 Biodiversity Target or under the scope of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020. Tendencies and perspectives on Education for Biodiversity Conservation in the coming decades is also a subject of debate in the present chapter.
- Climate change and e-learning: interdisciplinarity and interculturality challengesPublication . Alves, Fátima; Azeiteiro, UlissesClimate change is a key issue on today’s scientific, social and political agenda. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals reinforce its current priorities in this regard (e.g. SDG 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts) and is one of the five priority areas of the Strategy 2020 of the European Commission. This chapter discusses the specificities of climate change online learning in respect to syllabus contents and highlights its multidisciplinary and multicultural components. One of the characteristics of online learning is its capacity to reach an extensive number of people, scattered around the world and with diversified cultural backgrounds. This opens an extremely valuable path to research and societal responsibility, filled with potentialities and challenges. Student’s cultural diversity and geographical belonging must be reflected in the syllabus contents, as well as in the objectives of the courses and in the competencies that should be promoted. Furthermore in the design of the courses it is increasingly relevant to reflect and value an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning, because it is a key factor in Climate Change Education and Awareness. In this interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary dialog, it is crucial to evidence the cultural and contextual validity of knowledge and the impact of socioenvironmental dimensions in the configuration of Climate change challenges. For the purpose of this study we took as an example two course proposals: “Environment, Health and Wellbeing” for social sciences undergraduate students and “Governance of Climate Change Adaptation” for postgraduate students, presenting teaching contents, teaching and learning methodologies, effectiveness through e-learning in higher education institutions (HEIs) and the potential for increase in public climate science literacy.
- Education for sustainable development through policies and strategies in the public portuguese higher education institutionsPublication . Farinha, Carla; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Caeiro, SandraMany European countries, particularly in Northern Europe, have conducted integrated studies on Sustainable Development in Higher Education. In Portugal, no attempt has been made to evaluate in detail how Public Higher Education Institutions (HEI) are incorporating Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) at policy and strategy level and how it was implemented within Ministry of Education and Science. This study aimed to determine how sustainability was integrated into policies and strategies of 14 HEI in Portugal within the framework and goals of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD) 2005- 2014. Based on grounded theory strategy, multi case studies and documental content analysis a deductive approach was undertaken. Pre-selected key terms based on literature search were used for the content analysis. Documentary research on polices, plans and programs from the Governmental Great Planning Options as Governmental Constitutional Plans and the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science was performed through the analysis of the possible forms of implementation of DESD, and their consequent impacts on strategies of the public Institutions taking part of the Portuguese Council of Rectors. Given that 2014 was the final year of DESD 2005-2014 and 2005 was the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) assessment year, the approach of sustainability in public policies and strategies in the Portuguese HEI is on schedule. Notwithstanding some international drivers and a few practical examples at University level, preliminary results showed that ESD is still in its early stages of development and that there is a lack of national integrated strategies or policies. There is an absolute need for a change in the paradigm of Portuguese HEI and several barriers to overcome, both through learning and application of best practices from other European and worldwide countries.
- Environmental literacy in biodiversity terms at the end of the compulsory school: case study in Amadora, PortugalPublication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Nicolau, Leonor Bacelar; Galamba, J. M. M.; Azeiteiro, UlissesThis study assessed the contribution of formal environmental education, of the Portuguese national curricula, to student’s knowledge of biodiversity and related subjects, at the end of compulsory school. We also investigated the contribution of Alternative Courses on Education and Training to student’s environmental literacy, in terms of their knowledge of biodiversity and related subjects. The results of this study suggest that the formal environmental education of the national curricula and the alternative curricula did not significantly affect the environmental literacy of students, in terms of their knowledge of biodiversity and related subjects. A number of implications for Curriculum development and instructional practice are presented, and recommendations for further research are provided.
- Evaluation of an environmental education action about water resources conservationPublication . Caeiro, Sandra; Santos, L. S.; Azeiteiro, Ulisses
- Online learning for sustainability: the student perception in an environmental science post-graduationPublication . Nicolau, Paula Bacelar; Caeiro, Sandra; Martinho, Ana Paula; Amador, Filomena; Azeiteiro, Ulisses
- Online teaching for biodiversity conservationPublication . Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Nicolau, Paula BacelarThe aim of this work was to present the Biodiversity and Conservation teaching contents, teaching and learning methodologies and their results/effectiveness through e-learning in higher education (HE) at the Universidade Aberta (UAb), Portugal. Two curricular units covering the thematic of Biodiversity Conservation are taught in the three cycle degree system at UAb: Biodiversity and Conservation (compulsory CU, 6 ECTS, integrated in the curricular plan of the major in Environmental Sciences) and Biodiversity, Geodiversity and Conservation (optional CU, 6 ECTS, integrated in the curricular plan of the Master degree in Environmental Citizenship and Participation). Based on the teaching experience of nine editions of the e-learning courses on Biodiversity Conservation, particularly on the students perceptions and on the number of completed dissertations on the topic of Biodiversity, we consider that their main objectives were fulfilled, i.e. knowledge acquisitions about fundamentals on biodiversity conservation, interpretation, and applications. Some improvements are needed: foster the competencies needed among teachers to use e-learning in a meaningful way; materials suitable for use on e-learning programmes and the need to create synergies and interfaces between scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge (essential in this area of Biodiversity conservation) and also the lead role that e-learning can play establishing and developing a broader awareness on biodiversity conservation.
- Promoting ecosystems conservation and community-based economic alternatives in a changing climate: impacts of tourism (Cananéia, São Paulo, Brazil)Publication . Salgueiro, Joana; Vieira, José Guilherme Moreira Simões; Alves, Fátima; Soares, Amadeu M. V. M.; Azeiteiro, Ulisses; Morgado, FernandoCananéia is the southernmost city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. It is a municipality where the tertiary sector is the main contributor to the economy parallel to the maintenance of artisanal fishing activities. The authors perform a study on the impact of tourism in the municipality area (performed through surveys in an attempt to determine how the different population segments [residents, promoters, users] see the activity and its impacts on nature and on the local economy). The majority of tourists surveyed come from the state of São Paulo (83.3%) and the rest of Santa Catarina and Paraná, with ages from 19-25 (36.7%) (70% having higher education). 43.3% of the inquired stated that tourism is not correctly managed (however without relevant environmental impacts). 93.3% of the boaters and 66.7% of the interviewed referred lack of information about the sites ecology and the drivers of change of biodiversity, ecosystem services, and climate change. Questionnaires results clearly demonstrated the need for visitor information and interpretation envisaging sustainable tourism implementation.