Researcher Shares Expertise

Yash Bhagwanji, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction in the College of Education, recently contributed his expertise in early childhood education to a national publication.

Bhagwanji was published in the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) updated Environmental Educator Knowledge and Skills: Guidelines for Excellence, a comprehensive framework designed to advance environmental education across North America. Developed through collaboration among leading educators and researchers, the guidelines define essential competencies for practitioners in formal and nonformal settings.

His focus on developmentally appropriate practices and fostering learner independence aligns with NAAEE’s mission to promote environmental literacy and civic engagement. The guidelines emphasize community-centered instruction and collaboration to create a more sustainable future.

“The aim of teaching environmental education is to cultivate learners’ capacity for autonomous understanding and application,” Bhagwanji said. “Instruction should progressively transition from guided support to independent inquiry, enabling individuals to demonstrate mastery through self-directed problem-solving and critical thinking.”