Environmental Knowledge as a Component of Pupils’ Ecological Competence

Abstract

The article substantiates the importance of understanding the interdependence between the development of society, the state of the environment, and the content of education to address environmental threats and challenges. It is proved that environmental knowledge has a general cultural value. It is because the level of their formation depends on ecological worldview development, and hence the prospects for human survival. It is determined that studying Geography allows developing the basics of the strategy of preserving the living environment of mankind. The formation of pupils’ environmental knowledge as a component of ecological competence is essential for changes the individual’s consciousness and behavior, the harmonization of relations in the system ‘society-nature’. Accordingly, the geographical aspects of environmental knowledge are characterized by those that consist primarily in their space (chorological paradigm) and relationships with human society (paradigm of durable-sustainable, balanced development). Ecological competence refers to the integral development of personality, which combines normative, cognitive, emotional-motivational, and practical components, and provides the ability to identify, understand, and evaluate modern processes aimed at ensuring ecological balance and rational use of nature. The most favorable period for the formation of such competence is definitely the middle school age. Analysis of scientific and methodological literature on the issue allowed identifying personal, cognitive, and activity components of ecological competence. Scientific approaches to develop its theoretical provisions are scientific, systemic, value, normative, and personal activity approaches. It is proved that environmental competence, as a component of ecological competence, is inherently integrative. Its core is formed while teaching school subjects related to the Natural Science educational field and as the basis of ecological culture permeates the content of other school subjects.