Extension Course "Thinking about Environmental Education and the challenges in and after the pandemic": An experience report

Abstract

This article is an experience report on the extension course developed by the members of the Group of Studies and Research in Environmental Education, Diversity and Sustainability - GEPEADS of the Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ in partnership with the Integration Center Socio-environmental – CISA and the House of Agriculture, Sustainability, Territories and Popular Education – CASTE. The course had more than 100 participants, among them professionals, students and passionate about Environmental Education (EA), in addition to a team formed by undergraduate and graduate students, professors and graduates of UFRRJ. From the COVID-19 pandemic that affected Brazil and the world in 2020, the need arose to create an extension course to develop discussions and reflections on EE, in a completely virtual way, to respect social distancing and continue contributing to formation of ecological subjects who are critical of their realities. The course had its activities divided into two blocks: synchronous and asynchronous, from July 29, 2021 to December 10, 2021, using participatory strategies, associated with various virtual resources. Twelve topics of interest were proposed within the theme and 32 people outside the University were invited to contribute to the discussions, among them: Leonardo Boff, Isabel Carvalho and Carlos Rodrigues Brandão. This experience allowed deepening knowledge on the subject and creating networks of knowledge even during the period of social isolation.