Posts Tagged ‘education’

Friday Favourites: Computer games for Good

Friday, April 27th, 2012 by Admin

On this rainy Friday afternoon as I was flicking through the magazine put out by WasteMINZ my day was suddenly made just a wee bit brighter.

Amid all the doom and gloom of the world is wasting x product at ridiculous levels I came across a small feature article on something a little bit cool, a little bit different and that most definitely brightened my day: Educational computer games.

Try it... I dare you!

Try it... I dare you!

I did a little bit of research and the game that I played (briefly of course!) was called ” Michael, Michael, Go Recycle! .” Highly addictive, in this game (designed, I’ll admit, for kids) you run around picking up various types of rubbish and then deposit them into various recycling and rubbish bins. You get points for the more you recycle and you have to think about what you have collected and what bin it should go into.

So if are you sitting at home playing with a kid and you want to teach them about recycling or if you are at work and want just a little bit of entertainment to fill in your Friday, check it out at http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider.earth-day!

Importance of Sustainability Education

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010 by SophieR
Importance of Sustainability Education
Educating communities on sustainability is one of the core aims of the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust. Whether it be how to change what and how we consume, how to adopt new sustainable practices within industry, or communicating sustainable developments and innovation. SIFT has been a longtime supporter of the Untouched World Charitable Trust as they developed  the Tiromoana Programme in Canterbury. The programme focused on educating 16 and 17 year olds, in a week long intensive camp. The teaching was focused on exploring the processes of consumption and the life cycles of the materials we use every day. The objective was to demonstrate how it is necessary to be consider sustainable means of consumption and production so that the same resources will be available for future generations to enjoy. The Programme was used as a legacy item for the future development of teaching materials in schools.
There are many resources that can be utilised by parents and teachers, to get children thinking about waste management and recycling:
SIFT Website
NZ Forest and Bird
Zero Waste New Zealand Trust
Untouched World

Educating communities on sustainability is one of the core aims of the Sustainable Initiatives Fund Trust. Whether it be how to change what and how we consume, how to adopt new sustainable practices within industry, or communicating sustainable developments and innovation. SIFT has been a longtime supporter of the Untouched World Charitable Trust as they developed  the Tiromoana Programme in Canterbury. The programme focused on educating 16 and 17 year olds, in a week long intensive camp. The teaching was focused on exploring the processes of consumption and the life cycles of the materials we use every day. The objective was to demonstrate how it is necessary to be consider sustainable means of consumption and production so that the same resources will be available for future generations to enjoy. The Programme was used as a legacy item for the future development of teaching materials in schools.

There are many resources that can be utilised by parents and teachers, to get children thinking about waste management and recycling:

SIFT Website

NZ Forest and Bird

Zero Waste New Zealand Trust

Untouched World

Green Collar Job – Q&A – Simon Williams

Monday, July 26th, 2010 by Admin
Simon Williams

Simon Williams

Our latest Green Collar Job Q&A is with Simon Williams. Now, we haven’t actually met (or interacted) with Simon (yet) but we have with Sue Coutts (from Wanaka Wastebusters) who passed on the Green Collar Job Q&A to a few of the people who work for Wastebusters and Simon is one of them. He is the Enviroschools Facilitator, Zero Waste Educator and graphic designer  at Wanaka Wastebusters.

Education for sustainability is Simon’s thing. For the last 3 – 4 years he has facilitated EfS within the Lakes District of Aotearoa, New Zealand, with the local early childhood, primary, high schools, youth groups & community. He delivers the Enviroschools and Zero Waste Education programmes with passion, energy and commitment. Simon loves working at Wanaka Wastebusters, the dynamic and energetic way of working really suits. When he’s not immersed in EfS he uses his graphic design and photography skills to promote sustainable living to his community.

Simon is part of a growing number of people who are using their skills to further sustainable living ideals – thanks Simon for your answers!

1.    What do you do to live more sustainably (with a low impact) in your life?
I try to minimise my waste, am conscious of home energy consumption, I buy quality products that I expect to last a long time.

2.    How do you live more sustainably at work?
Print as little as possible, recycle and compost my waste, make the most of travelling, using the least amount of energy possible, promote sustainable practices to many people  I work with.

3.    What do you  think is the biggest environmental issue we need to deal with in Christchurch/New Zealand?
That more, big and economic growth are best.

4.    What makes you smile?
snowboarding, amongst many other things, and the colour yellow.

5.    What is your biggest pet peeve?
People talking using only clichés and power terms, it tells me they don’t fully understand what they are talking about and it’s so ambiguous….grrrrrrrrrrrrr

6.  What is your favourite colour and why?
White because it is a combination of every colour…….then yellow because it makes me smile

7.    Do you have a favourite place in the world? Describe why?
2nd pipe at Treble cone……it’s so much fun

8.    What’s your connection to SIFT?
I don’t have one

9.    Do you remember your favourite teacher and why they were your favourite?
I’ve had many favourite teachers, the ones who inspire me to change the way I think and question my staid opinions

10.    What do you want to leave behind?
Inspiration

11.    What do you think the future will bring?
Fun and lots of smiles on top of many heart wrenching tears

12.    Who is someone you really admire and why?
Richard Feynman – One of the world greatest thinkers with the ability to communicate amazingly complex things with everyone in a fun and engaging fashion.

13.    What is happening outside your window right now?
I don’t have a window right now.

14.    What is your favourite breakfast?
Full English

15.    What is the best piece of advice you can give us?
Don’t talk to me in clichés