Case Study on the Environmental Education Application Status for Water Recycling Facilities in Elementary and Junior High Schools in Yilan

Abstract

The goal of school campus renovations in Taiwan is sustainability. In addition to providing an atmosphere of high-performance and learning, these renovations can support school environmental education by being like a ‘living textbook’. In light of Yilan’s climate, a water recycling facility has become the focus of sustainable campus renovation. Considering the 10 elementary and junior high schools in Yilan that have already built water recycling facilities, this research studied the application status of a facility for environmental education, employing such research methods as document reviews, field surveys, lesson plans analysis, user interviews, and questionnaire surveys. According to the results of this research, a water recycling facility can serve as a good textbook for environmental education in elementary, junior high, and high schools in Yilan. Environmental education using water recycling facilities has achieved great success. However, teachers have encountered the following problems while teaching their lessons: anxiety over the depth of the pond and poor water quality, limited instruction facilities and explanations regarding animals and plants, lack of proper operation space for instruction, and teachers’ inadequate understanding of the operation of water recycling facilities.