Changing Public Behavior: People and the Environment is a self-study, e-learning course designed for natural resource professionals, extension educators, and environmental educators who work with communities. The course is available through eXtension, the USDA University Extension online learning resource.

Through an interactive format and investigation of practical examples, participants build skills and confidence in identifying and analyzing behavior change opportunities. The course is anchored by real-life case studies from around the US, mainly focusing on water topics, but with reference to climate change examples as well. Participants complete the course with their own draft plan for increasing people's involvement in an environmental situation.

The course offers several e-learning “badges” as evidence of unit and course completion. Collect “badges” on the eXtension Web site or http://backpack.openbadges.org.

The course is sponsored by the eXtension Drinking Water and Human Health interest area, and the University of Wisconsin-Extension Environmental Resources Center. Initial work to develop course content was funded by the USDA Water Program. Course content has been extensively tested and reviewed, in collaboration with Extension and natural resource professionals around the USA. Over 30 educators reviewed the online course draft.

Course instructors: Elaine Andrews, Kate Reilly, Patrick Robinson.