Exploring Ecojustice & Environmental Learning through Online Preservice Teacher Education

Authors

  • Erin Sperling OISE at the University of Toronto
  • Hilary Inwood OISE at the University of Toronto
  • Laura Sims Université de St. Boniface
  • Paul Elliott Trent University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53967/cje-rce.7233

Keywords:

preservice teacher education, virtual learning, national E-course, ecojustice education, community-based inquiry

Abstract

As teacher education can help communities transition to sustainable, just ways of being, this study reports on the development of, and research on, a national E-course for preservice teachers focused on Environmental and Sustainability Education (ESE). This collaborative initiative brought together academics, community educators, and K-12 teachers to offer participatory, locally-relevant online ESE learning. By facilitating learning centred on concepts of indigenization, ecojustice, and place-based learning, the E-course aimed to ensure equitable access to ESE for preservice teachers across Canada. We ask, what are participants’ experiences and the impact of their involvement in this E-course? Using a socio-critical lens, the authors draw on survey data to report on the outcomes of the E-course. We hope that it may serve as a new model for online ESE for preservice teacher education, and more broadly highlight the capacity for building understanding about ecojustice education and community connections through virtual learning spaces.

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Author Biographies

Hilary Inwood, OISE at the University of Toronto

Dr. Hilary Inwood is a teacher educator, researcher, and artist who leads the Sustainability & Climate Action Network at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Her work centres on the critical roles that education plays in addressing the polycrisis. She teaches a range of graduate courses on environmental and sustainability education (ESE), and coordinates a large-scale collaboration between OISE and the Toronto District School Board on K-12 teachers’ professional learning in climate justice education. She is a co-founder of a national network that works to better embed ESE into teacher education and co-leads the Accelerate project on Climate Change Education. Her research focuses on deepening teachers’ knowledge and skills in ESE, as well as developing creative approaches to environmental learning in educational settings.  

Laura Sims, Université de St. Boniface

Laura Sims, Ph.D., is a professor in the Faculty of Education, Université de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Her research focusses on learning for sustainability in formal and non-formal learning contexts. She teaches courses related to environmental and sustainability education, inclusive education, cultural diversity in education, amongst other things.

Paul Elliott, Trent University

Paul Elliott is an emeritus professor in the School of Education at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario where he has taught a range of courses including science education and environmental and sustainability education.  His research interests have been wide-ranging including insect and bat ecology and various aspects of science education. In recent years his research, curriculum development and advocacy have focused on environmental and sustainability education in teacher education.

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Published

2025-06-05

How to Cite

Sperling, E., Inwood, H., Sims, L., & Elliott, P. (2025). Exploring Ecojustice & Environmental Learning through Online Preservice Teacher Education . Canadian Journal of Education Revue Canadienne De l’éducation, 48(1), 145–173. https://doi.org/10.53967/cje-rce.7233

Issue

Section

Special Issue: Bridging Social and Ecological Justice in Education