What are the characteristics shown by those contents related to environmental issues proposed in 3rd of ESO textbooks?

Abstract

This study´s aim is to see how textbooks treat the environmental problems in ESO because these are frequently used by the teachers. We start from the methodological orientations suggested by the investigation in Education for Sustainability. We have studied those environmental problems which appear in the textbooks from 3rd course in ESO. The study includes not only the contents, but also the illustration´s aim and the exercises. We wanted to know if the illustrations ease the contents´ comprehension and if the proposed exercises could help in changing the students´ values, attitudes and behaviors. The results show that textbooks could be improved and that they treat the global environmental crisis from the traditional points of view, which means that the contents are based on the theory, are simple and reductionist.