Abstract
This qualitative study explores the practices and processes associated with implementing the Enviroschools approach. Enviroschools aim to nurture healthy and sustainable communities through learning and taking action collaboratively. The approach is implemented in over 1600 early childhood centres, primary, intermediate and secondary schools in Aotearoa, New Zealand. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 26 participating teachers, school leaders and Enviroschool facilitators and co-ordinators across 6 regions nationwide. Transcripts were analysed through thematic analysis. Two themes were developed to situate and describe participants’ experiences of implementing the approach: forming relationships through attunement and sustaining relationships through critical reflection. Both of these themes speak to the value of applying a relational lens to understand the implementation of systems approaches, particularly in school settings. Our findings also suggest that there is a need for and an appreciation of systems approaches to nurturing wellbeing and sustainability in school communities and that extending systems thinking to the implementation of these approaches can help to bring the interconnections between health and sustainability to life in meaningful ways. The participants valued viewing and approaching implementation as a journey that develops proximal and more distant currents of change over time. Further research to explore the mechansisms of change and how these lead to outcomes may help to translate the practices and processes of implementation.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.