Abstract

Environmental learning occurs through an interconnected web of opportunities. Some arise via organizations with sustainability- or environmental learning-focused missions, while others are facilitated by organizations focused on impacts and outcomes in a range of areas, such as health, social justice, or the arts. To better understand the richness of the community environmental learning landscape, we pursued a social network analysis in one place, the greater San Francisco Bay Area, California, USA. We collected quantitative and qualitative data from 256 organizations, resulting in a network of 950 organizations connected to environmental learning opportunities within the region. Our findings demonstrate that, although self-identified environmental learning providers may comprise the network’s core, the network also includes less-expected providers, primarily around the edges. Those providers often connect with related fields, such as youth development, public safety, or the arts, among others, forming a complex environmental learning landscape. We suggest opportunities to daylight and enhance the efficacy of collaborations among organizations to advance diverse and reinforcing interests. Moreover, we suggest that a network analysis approach is useful for understanding how organizations relate to each other through their connections and collaborations, providing community members with a robust ecosystem of lifelong learning supports.

摘要

环境学习是通过相互关联的机会网络发生的。有些是通过具有以可持续性或环境学习为重点使命的组织产生的，而另一些则是由专注于一系列领域的影响和成果的组织推动的，例如健康、社会正义或艺术。为了更好地了解社区环境学习景观的丰富性，我们在美国加利福尼亚州旧金山湾区的一个地方进行了社交网络分析。我们从 256 个组织收集了定量和定性数据，从而形成了一个由 950 个组织组成的网络，这些组织与该地区的环境学习机会相关。我们的研究结果表明，虽然自我识别的环境学习提供者可能构成网络的核心，该网络还包括意料之外的供应商，主要是在边缘地区。这些提供者通常与相关领域相联系，例如青年发展、公共安全或艺术等，形成复杂的环境学习景观。我们建议利用机会来促进组织之间的合作并提高其效率，以促进多样化和强化的利益。此外，我们建议网络分析方法有助于了解组织如何通过它们的联系和协作相互关联，为社区成员提供一个强大的终身学习支持生态系统。我们建议利用机会来促进组织之间的合作并提高其效率，以促进多样化和强化的利益。此外，我们建议网络分析方法有助于了解组织如何通过它们的联系和协作相互关联，为社区成员提供一个强大的终身学习支持生态系统。我们建议利用机会来促进组织之间的合作并提高其效率，以促进多样化和强化的利益。此外，我们建议网络分析方法有助于了解组织如何通过它们的联系和协作相互关联，为社区成员提供一个强大的终身学习支持生态系统。