Currents of change in environmental education

Dudu Vilane (left) won the award for best first-time presenter. Her practical and interactive presentation wowed the delegates (Picture © Thomas Mtontsi) A group embarks on an archaeological study (Picture © Thomas Mtontsi) A group of MCEN delegates brainstorm lesson plans. From left: Seneo Seleka, Thembani Mafenyane, SAEON’s Dumile Nthsingana and Danielle Bowen (Picture © Thomas Mtontsi)

- By Thomas Mtontsi, Education Outreach Officer, SAEON Egagasini Node and Dumile Tshingana, Education Outreach Officer, SAEON Elwandle Node

The two of us were fortunate to participate in the 9th Annual Conference of the Marine and Coastal Educators’ Network (MCEN) held at Hartenbosch in the Eastern Cape.

This year’s theme, “Currents of Change”, highlighted the changes that have taken place in the school curriculum as well as ways and means for marine educators to best deal with these changes, proving once more that MCEN’ers mean business!

Just over 60 delegates from five regions attended the conference, making this the biggest MCEN conference to date.

Adapting to change

Exchanging best practices in raising public awareness of the changes in our environment and ways to adapt to these changes formed the pivotal activity of this assembly. Conference objectives were enhanced by oral presentations, posters and various excursions, all of which resulted in a very successful event.

Conference participants were requested to put forward actual lesson plans and practical activities instead of presentations on the previous year’s activities.

The SAEON Elwandle Node presented two posters on its schoolyard projects (monitoring) and an awareness poster (on its annual marine biosciences event). The posters generated a number of questions from the audience, especially from organisations involved in practical fieldwork.

MCEN conferences are never without adventures ranging from water sports to snorkelling, and this year was no exception. Abseiling formed part of the programme and witnessing delegates of around 60 years of age perched perilously on high vertical surfaces literally took one's breath away.

One of the conference highlights is the gala awards function on the final evening. The most sought-after awards are for best first-time presenter and best presentation of the conference. Last year SAEON’s Dr Juliet Hermes walked away with the award for the best presentation. This year’s best presenter award went to Rosemary Thomas, and Dudu Vilane scooped the best first-time presenter award.

Conclusions

MCEN educators’ strength lies in their attempts to address the lack of direction in environmental education and its inclusion in the national curriculum. Support for this deserving structure is key as its endeavours are important in the upliftment of South Africa’s education standards.

Our overall feeling about the conference is that the people who benefit most are educators employed in education centres. For organisations like SAEON that are involved in education outreach the scope is limited – the conference still does not offer much opportunity to do full justice to what is being done in outreach programmes.

We hope that with time and with more presentations from organisations involved in outreach programmes, the conference organisers will come to realise the importance of activities such as outreach and other awareness platforms.