Environmental Service and Learning at John Carroll University

In the spring of 1994, the environmental studies concentration at John Carroll University initiated an environmental education program in conjunction with the Steamship William G. Mather Museum and the Cleveland Public Schools. As a Jesuit liberal arts institution, John Carroll University stresses the importance of community service. Learning activities consisted of lectures, problem-solving simulations, specimen identification, videos, water sampling, and debates. The biggest change, however, occurred with regard to the focus of the debate. In addition to promoting a sense of caring about the environment, the people want to develop a greater sense among all of the students, both from the public schools and from John Carroll, of their interconnectedness with other people in the area. Finally, the participation of John Carroll volunteers allows the reader to pursue a cooperative, collaborative pedagogy by making it possible for the reader to have the seventh graders work in small groups.