A Comparative Study on Environmental Education Curricula in the Forest Sciences of Korean and German Universities

우리나라와 독일 대학 산림과학과 환경교육 교육과정 비교 연구

This is a comparative study on environmental education curricula in the forest sciences of korean and german universities. The purpose of this study is to identify the developmental process, structure and content of environmental education(EE) explained by the forest sciences curricula from the two countries and to offer a simultaneous comparison, focusing on the four social variables and seven criteria of comparability in environmental education curricula. For the purpose of this study, the cross-disciplinary approach of George Z. F Bereday was employed. Environmental education curricula of two countries was analysed in the social context through the four phases of comparative procedure; the description, interpretation, juxtaposition and comparison. EE has been taught in the forest sciences of Korea and Germany since the middle 1990s. In forest sciences of two countries, EE was developed in relation to social needs and considered as a form of forest policy. Both korean and german forest sciences curricula include EE for the students to understand the theories and practices of EE as the application of the forest science. In process of EE, the students of two countries develop EE programs. German curricula have more seminars and practices than korean curricula. And various experts participate in education programs. The forest sciences of Korea focus on Environmental Interpretation which raises the quality of visitors' experiences in forest recreation. Contacting with nature(lived experiences) is a important factor in Korean EE. On the other hand, the forest sciences of Germany focus on forest education as a form of public relations and also as a form of EE. In Germany, there are various approaches to forest education; philosophy, ethics, psychology, natural science, forest policy, forest history, education and so on. Forest education includes the multiple levels.