Course ID: | ALDR 8500E. 3 hours. |
Course Title: | Change Theories in Environmental Conservation |
Course Description: | Theoretical foundations and applications of educational and
communication strategies to create an environmentally sustainable
world. Students conduct original research on behavior change
while working with an educational organization in formal and
non-formal settings to develop strategies that support
responsible environmental behavior in agriculture and
environmental science disciplines. |
Oasis Title: | Theories of Envir Conservation |
Nontraditional Format: | This course will be taught 95% or more online. |
Pre or Corequisite: | ALDR 8200 or ALDR 8200E |
Semester Course Offered: | Offered spring semester every year. |
Grading System: | A-F (Traditional) |
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Course Objectives: | Master alternative models and theoretical frameworks that are
used for analyzing demonstrated environmentally responsible
behaviors (ERB); barriers to ERB; and what encourages the
formation of ERB. Identify the similarities and differences
among various theories and models in environmental conservation.
Compare alternate models and theoretical frameworks in
environmental conservation as they pertain to specific fields
within agricultural and environmental sciences disciplines.
Master a range of educational and communication strategies and
identify the underlying theoretical assumptions about human
behavior related to environmental conservation.
Examine social and educational programs that work toward
sustainability by identifying how the programs address change
(theory of change), specific behaviors targeted, strategies
used, and the theoretical frameworks and assumptions that drive
the programs (logic model).
Explore ideas and experiences regarding personal behavior change
and develop a composite model of what works to support behavior
change in regard to environmental conservation. |
Topical Outline: | 1. Exploration of Theories
a. Intuitive and traditional models of human behavior change
i. Knowledge-deficit model of behavior change
ii. Cognitive dissonance
iii. Heuristics of behavior
b. Motives, values, emotion, and behavior change
i. Motives for ERB
ii. Intrinsic satisfaction
iii. Environmental values
iv. Environmental concern – empathizing with nature
c. Responsibility, personality, identity, and behavior
i. Self-construal
ii. Learned helplessness
iii. Responsibility as a factor of ecological behavior
iv. Identity theory
d. Major models of behavior
i. Theory of planned behavior
ii. Value-Belief-Norm theory of environmentalism
e. Communication and social change
i. Reasonable person model
ii. Elaboration likelihood model of persuasion
2. Review and Comparison of Theories
a. Behavior theory presentations and review
b. Discussion of behavior theory presentations
3. Application of Theories
a. Youth involvement
i. Environmental citizenship model
ii. Education for environmental action in the community
iii. Childhood participation with nature and its impact on adult
environmental attitudes and behaviors
iv. K-12 school-based service learning
b. Behavior change in adults
i. Nudges
ii. Libertarian paternalism
iii. Struggle to govern the commons
iv. Social learning and natural resource management
c. Campaign design
i. Challenges with promoting ERB
ii. Evaluation of ERB change techniques
iii. Strategy for small wins
4. Synthesis of Behavior Change Theories in Environmental
Conservation
a. Climate change and behavior change
i. 6 Americas
b. Behavior change projects |
Honor Code Reference: | "I will be academically honest in all of my academic work and
will not tolerate academic dishonesty of others." A Culture of
Honesty, the University's policy and procedures for handling
cases of suspected dishonesty, can be found at www.uga.edu/ovpi. |