Human Ecology Core Course

What human ecology means to me is looking at problems or concepts not from one discipline area, but intentionally looking at the problem or concept from multiple disciplines. It is also looking at the different impacts that the problem has and who is being impacted. In order to create a holistic idea of what the problem actually is, you need to use a human ecological perspective to problem-solving. This perspective will create more solid solutions that will last because it takes more into consideration or brings everyone together. It is important to be able to bring all of the key players or concepts together in order to create strong solutions that last.

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A large part of being a human ecologist is recognizing and fostering connections between things. So when I am starting the process of making a lesson plan, I think about, “What kind of community does my class already have?” “What assets can I build off of?” I also think about “What connections can I build either with a community member, another part of the school, or with one group of students to another?” “How can I foster not only connections between all of the different subject areas within social studies but also between person to person?" Yes, I will be teaching my students facts, but I also want to be able to be teaching them skills. These skills include, how to communicate respectfully, how to work with others, how to be able to engage in a civil conversation, and how to be able to listen to one another. I think that is the core of what human ecology is: the connections and interrelationships between problems, ideas, and people. Therefore, I will always strive to include that interconnectedness of concepts and foster the interconnectedness of people in all of my assignments and any future classroom.

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What I found hard about using an interdisciplinary method was directly including the sciences into my lesson plans. I was able to include the arts, English, and outdoor education into my lesson plans. I found it very easy to incorporate interdisciplinary work into my social studies lesson plans and units because social studies in and of itself is interdisciplinary. It combines history, government, economics, anthropology, etc. into this one whole category called social studies. Therefore, I personally don't know how anyone could be a social studies teacher without using an interdisciplinary approach.

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The reason I use a project-based approach to learning is because of the interconnectedness between students as well as the connections they make within their own community and interests. In my time in school, while doing project-based learning I was able to get out into my community and create connections that would last me a lifetime, or at least benefit me in the future. Project-based assignments have helped me build my people skills and the life skills that I need. There are so many different ways that a teacher can include their classroom into their community. From my perspective, this connection between school and community is very much lacking in high schools. As a human ecologist, I am going to work in my classes to bridge that gap and bridge a connection between school and life so that my students feel like their assignments are meaningful and they feel like they're gaining skills. 

Penquis Valley High School

During my student teaching I had to write the first draft of my Human Ecology Essay. I wrote this draft about how social studies is human ecological. I was highly influenced by the Thinking Like A Historian book I was working with in my student teaching. Here is an exerpt about human ecology in my classroom:

Social studies in and of itself is interdisciplinary. It does not focus on one topic, but is a compilation of several different topics (history, government, economics, anthropology, etc.) Therefore, I personally don't know how anyone could be a social studies teacher without using an interdisciplinary approach. Being a human ecologist has made being a social studies teacher easier because I am “trained” to use a human ecological perspective and see connections between concepts, problems, and people.

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Being a human ecologist has given me the ability to build a tool-belt that will help me bring meaning and a holistic view to my lesson plans. As a human ecologist, and as a teacher, I will always strive to guide my students to seeing the connections between different concepts and disciplines. In doing this, I will also work to foster social, emotional, and academic skill building in my classroom.

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I would always try to include human ecology in my lesson and unit plans, but one was especially intentional. My geography students had an assignment to create a slideshow presentation on a chosen country from our West Africa unit. 

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This assignment was called "Travel to West Africa." Students had to answer the following questions in their "plan" to travel to that country. 

1. What are the major geographical features? Include photos to show the landscape, ecosystems, or animals (science focus).

2. What is their currency? (Logistics and math).

3. What are three "must-see" places that you would want to go? (Places and art).

4. How long would it take you to get there? (Logistical). 

5. What places would you eat? What kinds of food would you eat? (Food and culture). 

6. Share one thing that you found interesting or fun about the country you chose. (Personal perspective).

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There are logistical questions about things they would need to know about when traveling there. Other questions are designed to meet different content areas to create a human ecological perspective of a country. When learning about different places, we must look at where they are located on a map, AND we must look at what makes that country unique (the people, places, culture or norms, cuisine, art, etc.)

Post-COA

For my Human Ecology Essay, I wrote about some of the various hats that I wear at COA and the lessons that they have taught me. One of those hats was my Ed. Studies hat where I talk about the human ecological lessons I learned through teaching. 

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Being a human ecologist has allowed me to focus on all aspects of social studies (history, government, economics, anthropology, etc.) as well as the policies that shape education. My teaching hat will continue with me as I further my professional development as a human ecological Social Studies teacher.

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Social studies is created in 8 subject areas. These areas are huge on their own, but they interact with each other. Human ecological teaching is teaching in a way that shows students the relationships between concepts in class and the real world. By doing this I will show them how these areas of social studies are not some abstract ideas, but actually impact them and others on a daily basis. To so many students U.S and World history and other aspects of Social Studies seem irrelevant and boring but there is so much to Social Studies that impact people on a daily basis. My hopes are that by teaching about concepts in my classes I am able to bring some real-life applicability to the topics. 

I fully believe that being a teacher is more than just being “content smart”. A teacher has to be aware of all of the things that are impacting your students in and out of the classroom. These things include, but are surely not limited to: what content they learn in other classes, what skills they already know and need to know, how each student impacts the classroom and school community, how the student’s home life affects their performance, and how your content plays into their life after high school. Because of this, I emphasize a skills-based teaching methodology. I teach my students in a holistic way and see them as full beings. Therefore, I will not only teach them the skills that they need to do well in academia, like notetaking, but I will also teach students life skills like goal setting, public speaking, email writing, and civil discussion. I look at my students from a human ecological perspective because they are whole beings. Their lives extend far beyond my classroom and so should my teachings. 

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I deeply beleive that my idea of human ecology as an educator will change as teaching in the upcoming years brings many more lessons for me to learn. I look forward to seeing how I grow as a human ecologist after I leave my beloved COA, the human ecological bubble I call home.