MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Civic ecology practices—such as community gardening, wetlands restoration, river cleanups, and tree planting—are a means for people to express resilience and rebuild communities marked by disaster and disinvestment.
Civic ecology draws on psychology, sociology, political science, education, ecology, and social-ecological systems resilience to understand how and why people care for nature and their communities.
Throughout this course, you will:
- Explore the people, places, and practices that restore nature and revitalize neighborhoods, making a difference in ways big and small.
- Discuss and evaluate contemporary thinking in resilience, social-ecological systems, and the relationship between nature and human/community wellbeing.
- Grasp an understanding of how civil ecology enables those with limited resources to defy and cope with daily struggles, including after disaster and war.
- Acquire the knowledge and skill set to enact change in your own community.
- Participate in a civic ecology service learning project to turn classroom learning into real-life application.
This course is ideal for a learner who is intrigued by both social and environmental concerns, or simply has a desire to dive into an emerging 21st century, cross-disciplinary subject area. You will complete this course with a keener awareness of social-ecological issues and concerns, as well as a greater knowledge of the practical steps required to rebuild and maintain community and nature in a world marked by inequality, conflict, and climate change.
What you'll learn
- Define civic ecology and its practices
- Describe a diverse range of civic ecology practices, stewards, and places
Identify the commonalities among civic ecology practices, including how they emerge and their components, interactions with large systems, and policy implications
- Apply the conservation ethic and civic engagement foundations of civic ecology in your everyday life
- Observe, participate in, develop plans for, and/or initiate local civic ecology practices in your community
- Create a multimedia "story" of civic ecology practice of your choosing
- Form networks with other course participants interested in continuing to explore civic ecology
Syllabus
Week 1
. Civic Ecology - What and Why?
. Principles of Civic Ecology
. Broken Places
Week 2
. Love of Life, Love of Place
. Learning Like Bees
Week 3
. Creating Community, Creating Connections
. Oyster Spat and Live Oaks – Memories
Week 4
. Ecosystem Services
. Stewardship, Health, and Well-being
Week 5
. Governance
. Resistance, Remembrance, Revolt, and Resilience
Week 6
. Policy Frameworks – Scaling Up and Out
. Conclusions
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.