I vividly remember sitting in my 7th grade computer skills class and typing. The school purchased a license for the latest typing program, allowing students to practice their skills with Typing Races, Word Munchers, Oregon Trail Games, and a myriad of other games and programs that hone computer literacy skills .
There are also challenges to apply the skills you've learned, such as using a modern word processor to type an essay about summer vacation plans or creating a visually appealing and informative slideshow of your favorite animal in PowerPoint. did.
When my 12-year-old self chose between different font styles to type “wolf” or remembered how to properly resize that wolf image I found in clipart, those skills taught me how to use computers. It turns out to be part of a decade-long mission. Improving literacy in public schools across the United States.
The computer literacy classes I took as a child gave me the skills I need to succeed in the workplace today. Similarly, just as we adapted our educational approaches to meet the demands of the digital age, we must now adopt the same innovative thinking to prepare students for a green economy. .
The reality is that our collective survival depends on a decisive transition to a more sustainable future. Unfortunately, we are currently failing to adequately prepare future leaders for this impending environmental change.
To ensure a brighter tomorrow, we must instill in our students the essential knowledge and skills to navigate and thrive in a green world. This highlights the importance of green muscle memory and the implementation of climate literacy initiatives in K-12 curricula.
This is especially important because, unfortunately, we are not preparing today's students for the green economy of tomorrow. Currently, only two of her states, New Jersey and Washington, have passed legislation that incorporates comprehensive climate education across all grade levels and subject areas.
Although some states have adopted Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), these standards are not mandated and therefore untested. Looking at the current state of climate education across the country, not only is there a lack of funding but also a lack of standardization. Of course, for every state like New Jersey and Washington that is at the forefront of advancing climate education, there are other states that are hindering their progress. Texas is passing a bill that would require schools to demonstrate the benefits of the fossil fuel industry. In fact, they want to spread the myth that the current climate crisis is a natural phenomenon and not caused by humans.
In Florida, one of the states hardest hit by the effects of climate change, there is an approved video denying that the crisis is caused by human activity. PragerU, a right-leaning group, is being used across Florida to try to make the climate change issue “both ways” with a video titled “Fossil Fuels: The Greenest Energy.”
This is a disadvantage to students who are not prepared for tomorrow's green jobs. The Department of Energy estimates that millions of new green jobs will be added to the economy in the coming decades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, demand for jobs like environmental engineers and wind turbine technicians will continue to grow.
The number of green jobs has increased by 50% since 2019 and is estimated to continue to grow. To prepare today's students to lead tomorrow's green economy, we need to teach them the green skills they need to succeed today.
As we reflect on advances in computer literacy, it is clear that similar efforts are needed to prepare students for the green economy. The transition of society towards a sustainable future requires the united efforts of educational institutions, communities and policy makers.
By seamlessly integrating green education into the curriculum, developing essential green skills, and adopting collaborative solutions, we are enabling the next generation to lead the way towards a greener, more resilient future. It can be empowering.
Computer literacy programs in the United States have enabled millions of students to learn the knowledge and skills they need to benefit and grow the economy. We can do the same with climate education. The only difference between computer literacy in the '90s and climate education today is that the world is on fire. We are suffering from wildfires, floods, massive biodiversity loss, and many other climate crises. Our students can't wait any longer for climate education, and neither can our planet.
