Environments

The context provided by this area of interaction considers environments to mean the totality of conditions surrounding us. This area of interaction focuses on the place of human beings within a wide range of environments including natural, built and virtual. In their interactions, students will come to an appreciation and understanding of their effects on their environments. The **  natural  **  environment includes all living and non-living things that occur  naturally  on Earth along with its systems, landscapes and resources. The **  built  **  environment includes the settings for human activity, ranging from the large-scale civic surroundings to personal places, such as homes. The **  virtual  **  environment includes electronic environments, Internet environments and the concept of personal space. The word “environment” can refer to a vast array of complex and often controversial “green” issues. These issues, and the finding of solutions to them, are clearly important in the lives of all people. As students will be increasingly confronted with complex and controversial global environmental issues, this area of interaction provides opportunities for students to see these global issues in the light of local concerns, and vice versa. __Central issues:__ __Key Questions to consider__ How can we make informed and responsible choices? What are the lifestyle implications of making environmental choices? How can I affect my environments in a positive way? What difference can I make as an individual? How do I affect my environments? How do my environments affect me?
 * the effects of our actions, attitudes and constructs, such as sustainable development and conservation
 * physical, social, political, economic and cultural dimensions
 * the nature and role of local and international organizations responsible for protecting our natural environments
 * our responsibilities to our environments