Character Building of Caring for the Environment in Social Studies Learning Through an Ecopedagogic Approach

Abstract

Character education is a national strategic policy contained in the 2013 curriculum. The government's policy on character education has succeeded in developing eighteen character values derived from the culture of the Indonesian nation. One of the character values that needs to be internalized in learning is the character of caring for the environment. This is based on the declining awareness of students and public concern for the problems of the natural environment, as well as the social environment. So that social studies learning becomes a strategic alternative in shaping the character of caring for the environment through intracurricular and extracurricular activities, by using an ecopedagogic approach as a comprehensive concept to support the process of building environmentally caring character in social studies learning. Meanwhile, the formation of environmentally caring character can be done using a problem solving model that is integrated in the social studies learning process, collaborating on social capital and local wisdom in intracurricular and extracurricular activities. Thus, students' sensitivity to various social problems in the environment increases, students can be skilled in making accurate decisions in solving social and environmental problems, and are able to grow students' analytical skills.