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Lookout for learning: Exploring the links between drama and environmental education pedagogies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2020

Susan J. Wake  and
Sally Birdsall
Susan J. Wake
Affiliation:
School of Architecture, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand
Sally Birdsall*
Affiliation:
School of Curriculum and Pedagogy, Faculty of Education, University of Auckland, New Zealand
*
*Corresponding author: Email: s.birdsall@auckland.ac.nz
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Abstract

Environmental educators remain challenged by how to encourage people to make connections between environmental quality and human development in a way that is socially just and equitable for all living things. This article explores links between performance-based learning and environmental education pedagogy as one way to address this challenge. Sixteen children (8–10 years) from an Auckland primary school worked with a performance artist to present Lookout, an intimate performance by a child for an adult. Its intent was to juxtapose people’s different backgrounds, experiences and ages in a two-way communication of their view of Auckland City through an environmental lens encompassing past, present and future, while surveying the city from a vantage point. Analysis of data from focus groups with the children and interviews with their parents (also participants) showed that the Lookout process led to children developing a deeper understanding of Auckland City’s issues, a stronger sense of connection to their city, an understanding of the future, and feelings of empowerment. However, their parents’ learning was more tenuous. Three key elements to the success of Lookout for learning are identified, and it is proposed that these could be used when developing performance-based environmental education programs.

Keywords

Environmental educationchildrenplacearts-based
Type
Research/Practice Articles
Information
Australian Journal of Environmental Education , Volume 36 , Special Issue 3: Making connections: Creating relationships with nonhuman nature, place and community , November 2020 , pp. 234 - 245
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Copyright
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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