| This study showed what type of motivational strategies could be employed for a green curriculum in middle schools; enabling science teachers the opportunity to engage students and promote an integrated understanding of energy concepts. On average, educators lack the motivation to teach environmental education and the desire to encourage their students to learn about the environment. School administrators need to understand how to motivate educators to teach environmental concepts. Without an understanding of how to motivate teachers, a curriculum cannot be delivered that offers students the ability to acquire a deeper understanding of environmental issues and the skills necessary to make informed decisions that will improve the environment. The purpose of this study was to explore motivational strategies to employ a green curriculum. The research method was a qualitative comparative case study approach using semi-structured interviews and an online questionnaire with open-ended questions. The methodology allowed the researcher to provide an authentic connection to the educators engaged in teaching science and ensured the participants were given an opportunity to reveal their thoughts and insights on teaching environmental education. The participants in this study included 10 science teachers in middle school science classrooms in Aldrich Intermediate School, Cunningham Intermediate School, Fruzen Intermediate School, and McNeel Intermediate School in Beloit, WI. Data were coded from the interview and questionnaire based on words, phrases, and "clusters" of text. Data were coded on emerging themes and relevance to the theoretical framework of conscientization and constructivism. Data analysis was performed using NVivo 11. The results of this study show that participants felt environmental education was important, but that the motivation to teach environmental concepts required more time for science instruction, more training, additional resources, and more district support. Additionally, various motivational strategies to teach environmental education could be used to engage teachers so they will promote an integrated understanding of environmental concepts in their courses. The findings have important implications for the most effective ways to motivate middle school science educators to teach environmental education, and further add to the literature on environmental education, and the exploration of the theories of conscientization and constructivism. |
