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Environmental Education in the School Curriculum
11:300:416
Wednesdays 11a-1:40p
Room 203 Waller Hall, Cook Campus, Rutgers University
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
An opportunity to foster ideas and discussion about environmental and scientific literacy while developing plans to target and assess learning goals for all audiences..
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Participants in this course will:
*Gain insight into both environmental issues and the issues surrounding environmental education
*Develop ways to incorporate environmental education into formal and informal learning environments
*Discuss how to better teach environmental and science literacy and life-long science learning skills
COURSE CONTENT AND OUTLINE:
We will meet for 14 weeks. A rough schedule of topics will be provided at the first class meeting.
ASSIGNMENTS/RESPONSIBILITIES & ASSESSMENT:
As an understanding of the complexity and nature of environmental issues is critical to the effective use of environmental issues in science education, students will be held responsible for the environmental content as well as the pedagogical content covered in this course.
Students will be expected to:
• Fill out reflective journal entries (2 required) and keep a materials binder to help students use materials/skills obtained and learned in this course in future teaching ventures.
• Complete 2 quizzes (dates will be announced-no make-ups w/o prior arrangement)
• Participate in 3 Teaching/Learning projects that combine both and oral and written presentation of material
• Complete 6 single page Assignments
• Final Summative Paper (2 page letter)—In place of a final exam
Assessment Distribution:
Journal (5%) Quizzes (10%), Thought Papers (30%), Projects (50%), Final Paper (5%)
Assessment scale:
All assignments are due at 3 pm on the due date. 5% will be deducted for each day that the assignment is late. No extra credit will be awarded, but students are encouraged to submit work early for initial comments. To be fair, I ask that any requests for a grade change or make-up (projects only and in advance) must be in writing. Grade scale: 100-90%= A, 87-89%= B+, 80-87%= B, 77-79%= C+, 70-75%= C, 66-69%= D+, 60-65%= D, <60%= F. Grade is based on mastery, not on a curve. Please note that plagiarism will not be tolerated—always provide your sources!
OTHER INFORMATION:
It is important that students have the tools to succeed in this course. Please see the instructor *as soon as possible* with any difficulties or questions regarding the course materials. In addition student affairs (http://studentaffairs.rutgers.edu/) for any needs or concerns.
EE Online Resources:
Standards:
NJ Standards:
NJCCCS-- http://www.state.nj.us/njded/cccs/
NJ Science frameworks-- http://www.state.nj.us/njded/frameworks/science/index.html
National Standards:
National Sci. Ed. Standards.-- http://www.nap.edu/readingroom/books/nses/html/
Am. Assoc. Adv. Sci. Benchmarks-- http://www.project2061.org/tools/benchol/bolintro.htm
National Science Teacher’s Association Position statements— http://www.nsta.org
Environmental Education Professional Organizations:
Environmental Education in NJ:
Alliance For NJ EE-- http://www.anjee.net
National Environmental Education:
EPA-- http://www.epa.gov/epahome/educational.htm
ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development) http://www.ascd.org/
National Proj. Exc. In EE (CHECK OUT THE STANDARDS).— http://www.naaee.org/programs-and-initiatives/guidelines-for-excellence/
North American Association for Environmental Education: http://naaee.org
General Science Teaching:
National Science Teachers Assoc. -- http://www.nsta.org/
New Jersey Educational Assoc.-- http://www.njea.org/default.asp
New Jersey Science Teachers Association. – http://www.njsta.org
Classroom Activities/Resources:
Carolina Biological Environmental Classroom Materials:
Chemical testing equipment, Green Program
Dell and DataHarvest: Probeware
NJ Audubon Soc.-- http://www.njaudubon.org/ (New Jersey Waters, Bridges to the Natural world)
Roots and Shoots—(http://www.rootsandshoots.org) (scavenger hunt, service learning)
Outdoor Education—(Book-teaching in the outdoors) (envirolopes, discovery activities)
NJ DEP SEEDS-- http://www.state.nj.us/dep/seeds/ (Beneath the Shell)
Inquiry teaching—(http://www.pbs.org, Book: introducing students to scientific inquiry)
Rutgers Cooperative Research and Extension (http://www.rcre.rutgers.edu) Home A*Syst, 4-H
National curriculum packets:
Project learning tree-- http://www.plt.org/
Project Wild-- http://www.projectwild.org/
Project Wet-- http://www.projectwet.org/ Healthy waters/Healthy people
National curriculum programs:
State Environmental Education Roundtable (EIC) – http://www.seer.org