An understanding of the environment is a vital pre-requisite for informed behaviour and action, and an essential input for sustainable long term development and change. Environmental education has accordingly become of increasing importance in order to achieve an adequate understanding of environmental problems at local, national and global scales, and to identify positive ways forward.

Understanding the Environment has been produced to assist with this process and is a set of multimedia learning resources designed to give users a comprehensive understanding of environmental science and environmental issues.

There are currently three titles in the series :

Introducing Environmental Science
…explaining the physical, chemical and biological processes of the earth and its atmosphere.
click here for a table of content for disk1

Exploring Environmental Problems
….investigating the relationship between human activity and the environment.
click here for a table of content for disk2

Towards Environmental Sustainability
….. exploring progress and solutions towards the goal of environmentally sustainable development
click here for a table of content for disk3

Designed as a self-contained learning resource, the system offers a wide variety of benefits. It can be used either as an independent learning package – enabling users to learn at their own pace whilst developing their IT skills – or in a classroom context.

A particularly distinctive feature is the unique video presentation facility - introducing contrasting environmental perspectives and viewpoints – that empowers users to develop and appreciate well-balanced and reasoned arguments on specific environmental issues. Additionally, by discussing current solutions to environmental problems, the package encourages users to adopt an open mind to the development of environmentally sustainable alternatives

Developed by environmental scientists at the University of Leeds, the package employs audio commentaries, video footage, animation and interactive diagrams to help explain complex environmental concepts and reinforce learning.

The system is accompanied by teacher guides and worksheets click here to view teacher guide and worksheets

The Casey Group has sponsored the trial of a pre-release version by secondary schools in the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA) local authority area.

Each secondary school will be offered the chance to join the trial and to receive a free system. These will be distributed through the LEA's.

In return, teachers will be expected to provide feedback regarding the use of the system.

Worksheets and teaching aids produced for the trial will be freely available via this web site.

Following this trial, the system will be available on general release.

In the meantime, a limited number of pre-release copies are available for evaluation purposes.

If you feel that your school or college could benefit from an evaluation copy, please e-mail your details and the reasons for your request to