Trevor Walker

Engaging Older Adults in Environmental Education: a Case Study: Exploring Water Through Metaphoric Imagery, Discussion and Action Trevor Walker

This book describes a unique case study that focused on an environmental education curriculum for older adults. The research followed from previous studies in exploring the instructional and research potential of metaphor and environmental orientation. Environmental orientations towards water were examined among a group of retirees before, during and after a workshop which incorporated instructional metaphor as a teaching strategy. The study demonstrated that, at least for some participants, the use of metaphor from a variety of orientations has the potential to increase participants' appreciation of alternative ways of relating to the environment. Overall, the use of metaphor appears to have contributed positively to most participants' understanding of water issues. As an educational tool instructional metaphor was useful in group discussion as a catalyst for conversation about how participants' view, understand and relate to water. As a research technique metaphoric interviewing was useful to help draw out the accumulated knowledge and experiences of older adults.