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How might everyday experiences shape biodiversity understanding? A perspective to spark new research
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- In this perspective article we start from the theories of constructivism and conceptual change within the field of education to develop and present hypotheses about how understandings of biodiversity and diversity more generally are formed. We argue that extrinsic and circumstantial elements from everyday experiences are relevant in shaping understandings of biodiversity.We discuss how children’s games and food-related experiences may influence how children form conceptions of biodiversity. We focus on ‘misconceptions,’ areas where conceptions differ from established ideas in ecology. These include: underestimating the importance of diversity for “complementarity” and over-simplifications of how nature works. Firstly, we examine a type of children’s game that often concerns biodiversity and consists of a puzzle where the forming of categories is encouraged. Secondly, we discuss people’s relation to nature through food in their diets. We believe that targeted intervention is needed to move towards an inclusive and multi-faceted representation of biodiversity, one that emphasises fundamental properties that make a whole and interacting parts. We argue that experiences of games and food can be pivotal in developing a deeper understanding of these fundamental properties of biodiversity. These would be important experiences to consider when attempting transformative change of relationships between people and nature.
- Subjects :
- UFSP13-8 Global Change and Biodiversity
bepress|Education|Early Childhood Education
SocArXiv|Education|Early Childhood Education
bepress|Education|Elementary Education
bepress|Education|Science and Mathematics Education
SocArXiv|Education|Science and Mathematics Education
SocArXiv|Education
10127 Institute of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies
SocArXiv|Education|Elementary Education
bepress|Education|Outdoor Education
bepress|Education
570 Life sciences
biology
590 Animals (Zoology)
SocArXiv|Education|Outdoor Education
Subjects
Details
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....40ecd59b5859a301abf154d456176aeb