Development and Implementation of Online Learning Program for Environmental Education Based on Life Cycle Thinking

Abstract

parts. In the first part, learners study the LCT concept using visual materials that describe the life cycle environmental impacts of pro-environmental behaviors, such as local production for local consumption and reuse tableware. In the second part, learners calculate the life cycle energy of their own belongings using the dedicated LCA software named 'Energy Consumption in Your Bag?!' . These learning materials can be downloaded from the website prepared for the e-learning. Approximately 500 high-school third graders studied using this self-directed e-learning program, individually during the summer break. Their teachers' role was to provide students with the follow-up quizzes to confirm what they had learned. The result of the selfassessment survey conducted after the e-learning showed that more than half of the learners became concerned about LCA. Moreover, there was the tendency that their concern to environmental problems was higher than that of the previous third graders in the same school. Furthermore, we analyzed the learners' impression statements written after the e-learning, and found that the learners who began to be concerned about LCA tended to describe more about their daily lives in their impression statements than those who were not or less interested in LCA did.

An Environmental Learning Support System Incorporating the Life Cycle Concept

“…For 2) the studies related to environmental education/learning support system, Poudelet et al (2012) [13] addressed the issue by proposing a business process reengineering (BPR) methodology that can be used to develop suitable decision-support systems (DSS). Hirayama et al (2015) [14] developed an e-learning system for environmental studies that applied the life cycle concept. Santos et al [14] and "Plastic bags and personal shopping bags" for Uehara et al (2017) [16].…”

“…Hirayama et al (2015) [14] developed an e-learning system for environmental studies that applied the life cycle concept. Santos et al [14] and "Plastic bags and personal shopping bags" for Uehara et al (2017) [16].…”

“…In the environmental learning programs proposed by Hirayama et al (2015)[14] and Uehara et al (2017)[16], the only exercise conducted after learning about the life cycle concept was the estimation of CO 2…”