Promoting Environmental Stewardship in Negros Occidental: Service Learning for Alangilan Farm School Teaching Force–Sharing Best Practices, Updates, and Benchmarking

The Alangilan Farm School (AFS) is one of the farm schools of Bacolod City that is deemed to benefit most from the service-learning approach as thoroughly discussed in this Campus Extension Project Paper. The project's objective was to gauge the current levels of environmental stewardship practices and knowledge of the teaching force at AFS in the Province of Negros Occidental for the School Year 2022-2023. Service-learning blends quantitative and qualitative methodologies using a mixed-methods approach. An initial survey, which explored the needs of the teacher-participants, evaluated their initial environmental stewardship knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors to establish a baseline. The project's main components included sharing best practices, providing updates, and conducting benchmarking activities that focused on effective pedagogical approaches and modern developments in environmental education. Focus group discussions and post-project surveys were employed to assess the project's success. The results showed that participants' knowledge of environmental issues, pedagogical strategies, and resources for environmental stewardship instruction has significantly improved after undergoing the program topics and FGDs. These produced insightful suggestions and recommendations for integrating sustainability into a variety of learning disciplines. The project also helped teachers change their views on certain teaching strategies to instill among learners a sense of responsibility for environmental protection. The use of service learning at AFS exemplifies how it can enhance teachers' ability to foster environmental stewardship. The project provided teachers with more knowledge and helped develop the attitudes necessary for successfully integrating sustainable practices. These results are in line with the overarching objective of cultivating ecologically aware people in Bacolod City, in Negros Occidental, and beyond. Future studies may investigate how increasing the number of such projects can influence learners' views and behaviors over time regarding environmental protection.