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3 CreditsSpHC 212EnEd 4555 Foundations of EE(Spring 2008)3 Credits9:30-11:50 ThursdaysSpHC 212Instructor: Dr. Julie (Athman) ErnstOffice: 241 EngrOffice Hours: 1-2 pm Monday-Friday (or by appt.)Phone: 726-6761Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web URL: www.d.umn.edu/~jernst (select EnEd 4555 from course list)Course Description: This course provides an introduction to environmental education (EE). The purpose of this course is to develop the knowledge and skills for providing quality, age-appropriate EE for students in the formal classroom setting. The emphasis is on EE curriculum materials, resources, and programs that can be used with students in settings at or near their schools to support both school curricular and environmental literacy goals. Additional emphasis will be on using the schoolyard outdoor environment as a source of environmental education experiences. This course involves teaching a Project Wet lesson in a local elementary school classroom, teaching an EE lesson in a preschool classroom, and culminates in teaching a series of three EE lessons in a local elementary school classroom. *Note: REC 2300 Recreation Programming is a pre-requisite for this course!Course Objectives:1. Develop an understanding of environmental education, including its goalsand objectives, historical development, and key characteristics, and underlying learning theories2. Discuss barriers to incorporating environmental education into the preK-12 formal education setting.3. Explain the need for environmental education, including its relevance to the preK-12 formal education setting.4. Respond to criticisms of EE, providing a rational for the incorporation of environmental education into formal classroom settings.5. Develop a familiarity with EE curricular resources, programs, and materials, including documents that guide EE in MN and nationally. 6. Develop and implement age-appropriate EE lesson plans that support both educational goals/standards and environmental literacy goals7. Use the outdoor schoolyard environment as a context for environmental education lessons.8. Explain broad instructional approaches to providing environmental education to students in formal classroom contexts, such as use of school forests, environmental service-learning, issue investigation, phenology-based, and environment-based education.1Course Expectations:1. Attendance is required for this course. This class is made up of learning experiences that are sequential and often involve real-world applications in the schools. In order to receive points for these experiences, you must be there! If you already know of conflicts with your schedule, this may not be the semester to take this course. 2. Be prepared for class. Have your readings and assignments completed before you come to class. Bring your syllabus to each class.3. Actively participate in class. By actively participating, you will get the most out of this course and help others learn from your experiences. Lack of preparation for class (lack of reading) and lack of participation results in lack of participation points.4. Respect the formal learning environment. This includes arriving and leaving on time, making sure cell phones are off, and being open to the opinions and ideas of others. This also includes professional presentationof assignments and abiding by the University’s academic conduct policies.5. Ask for assistance. We each have different learning needs and preferences; if something is unclear or if you need alternative opportunities to learn the course topics, please ask!Required Textbooks: (available in UMD Bookstore)1. Sobel, D. (1996). Beyond ecophobia. Great Barrington, MA: The Orion Society (also available online through Acorn Naturalist and amazon.com) *read by 2/72. Project Wet Curriculum Guide (details coming regarding purchasing, approximately $15))3. Grant, T & Littlejohn, G. (2005). Teaching green: The elementary years. Gabriola Island. BC: New Society Publishers. *Please bring this text to class during the first half of the course.Course Schedule:Date TopicAssignment Due1/24 -Course Introduction-Definitions, goals and objectives, historical foundations of EE-EE v. OE-“The Roots of Environmental Education” (course website)- In-class participation (5 points)1/31 -Need for EE (environmental issues and Americans’ level of environmental literacy)- Environmental advocacy v. EE-Characteristics of Quality EE (accuracy, depth, skill building, action orientation)- In-class preparation/participation (5 points)- Env. issue summary (5 points)-“Why Kids Need Nature” reading (course website)- “Two Hats” reading (course website)- “On Thinner Ice” reading (course website)-Assigned reading from Louv’s book 2and the Children and Nature Network website2/7 -Characteristics of Quality EE: Instructional Soundness (Age- Appropriate; Inclusion/ Diversity; Learning Styles; Interdisciplinary; Experiential)-Identifying and Evaluating EE Resources/Curricula-In-class preparation/participation (5 points)-EE resource review (10 points)-Beyond Ecophobia text (all of it)-Familiarize yourself with “EE Materials: Guidelines for Excellence” (course website)2/14 *MEET inMonH121-EE for Early Childhood/Preschools-Introduction to Preschool EE Lesson Assignment-Work time with ECh students-In-class preparation/participation (10 points)- Assigned Children and Nature Network readings-Assigned Early Childhood Reading from “Natural Wonders: A Guide to Early Childhood for Environmental Educators”2/21 -Relevance of EE to schools/students in classroom settings; Benefits-Barriers to EE in schools -Criticisms of EE in schools-Goals for Curriculum Development in EE-Readings Quiz (5 points)-In-class participation (5 points)-“EnviroEducation” reading (course website)-“Classroom Warfare” reading (course website)-“Goals for Curriculum Developmentin EE” (course website)-“No Child Left Inside” reading-EE Saves the Day” reading2/28 -Guiding Documents for EE in MN Schools (EE Scope and Sequence and State Standards)-Goals and Objectives: Meshing EEGoals with Education Goals-Experiential Learning Cycle-Teaching Strategies-Assessing Student Learning-Putting it Together: Lesson Plans*Review sheet given-In-class preparation/participation (10 points)-Familiarize yourself with “Environmental Literacy Scope and Sequence” and “MN State Science Standards” (course


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U of M ENED 4555 - Foundations of EE

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