The Wisconsin K-12 Energy Education Program (KEEP) of the Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education and the Wisconsin Society of Science Teachers have awarded funding for this two-day workshop.

The goals of the workshop are to:

• Develop a shared vision for what environmental education (EE) should be for all teacher preparation programs in Wisconsin
• Collaboratively offer new learning opportunities about environmental education for preservice students and complete an action research project that you design
• Increase pre-service energy education opportunities and support for K-12 teachers
• Utilize our network to learn more about environmental education and its effect in schools

Significance of the Workshop

Wisconsin’s rich legacy of learning about and appreciation for the natural environment resulted in the Wisconsin State Legislature approving the requirement for conservation education for youth in 1930 (State of Wisconsin, 1989), the requirement that all school districts in Wisconsin incorporate environmental education into their curricula in 1983 [Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 8.01(2)(k)] and in multiple licensure areas in teacher preparation through the following state statute adopted in 2000:

Environmental education including the conservation of natural resources for licenses in agriculture, early childhood, middle childhood to early adolescent, science and social studies. [Wisconsin Administrative Code PI 34.15(4)(b)].

Topics to be Addressed

• Research findings and sharing about how EE is being addressed in Wisconsin IHE’s
• Wisconsin Standards for Environmental Literacy and Sustainability
• Incorporating standards based energy education resources into your subject area, including modeled inquiry-based activities using technology, which will enhance the sustainability of your site
• Developing a research plan for the entire network and personalizing for your site
• Opportunities for continued engagement in EE through state and national organizations

Outcomes and Expectations for Participants

• Recruit a collaborator. There should be at least one IHE faculty member paired with one K-12 teacher.
• Attend both days of the workshop – June 10-11
• Teach one or more of the integrated lessons during the next academic year
• Conduct research with your collaborator
• Participate in a follow up meeting to discuss research findings and incorporation of energy education
• Assist in writing a shared vision statement for Environmental Education in preservice education in Wisconsin

Participant Support

• Lodging for 1 night. If you are traveling for more than two hours, funding may be available for Sunday night.
• Meals and snacks each day of the workshop
• A stipend of $250 (for travel and participation)
• Instructional resources distributed at the workshop

Please distribute this announcement to all of the education, content and other faculty and staff who should apply to this faculty development workshop. Applicants will include faculty members from IHEs, as well as their K-12 teacher collaborators. Applicants should complete the on-line Google form at https://goo.gl/forms/7JaQXIg7nIsNPRg53 by March 1, 2019.

Questions about the EE Workshop or Application - please contact:

Dr. Becca Franzen
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
bfranzen@uwsp.edu
715-346-4943